Sharing the Wealth on Yom Kippur

October 06, 2014 by Yitzchok Adlerstein

Continued from Page 1

For the sin we have committed in judgment. G-d doesn't rely on YouTube to judge us; must we jump to conclusions and rush to judgment based solely on a fleeting image?

For the sin we have committed through a begrudging eye. Keeping up with Paris Hilton or the Kardashians is a losing proposition. We've become so fixated on acquiring "stuff" that it hurts to see others with more than ourselves. That blinds us to the simple truth, in the words of the Rabbi of Kotzk, that "the greatest blessing in life is life itself."

For the sin we have committed through light-headedness. If G-d had wanted us to find happiness and fulfillment through pills and drugs he would created a medicine cabinet in the Garden of Eden. Clear your head; heal your soul on a diet of good deeds wrapped in self-awareness and honesty.

For the sin we have committed through baseless hatred. Every person was created in the image of G-d. Enough said.

For the sin we have committed through confusion of heart. While we sometimes have been too sure of ourselves, confusion is not a luxury we can afford when confronted by evil. We watched for years as a medieval barbarism rose from the past, from Nigeria to Afghanistan, maiming, torturing, and killing all who were different. We delayed, in our confusion, to identify it for the unmitigated evil it is. And we pay a price for every minute we choose not to resist Evil.

You may ask, is this the way to bring your New Year's celebration to a close? What happened to the confetti?

Trust us: Prepare your own Al Chet list. We promise that all the emotional heavy lifting will bring with it a precious gift: A dose of hope—enough, we pray, that will help us humanize our deeds and our thoughts, and tide us and the rest of humankind over for another year.

Shana Tova! A happy, healthy New Year to all.

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12/2/2022 9:02:50 PM

Jewish

The Velvet Kippah

Confession

Holy Days

Repentance

Yom Kippur

Judaism

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About Yitzchok Adlerstein

Yitzchok Adlerstein is an Orthodox rabbi who directs interfaith affairs for the Simon Wiesenthal Center, and chairs Jewish Law at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles. He is hopelessly addicted to the serious study of Torah texts.

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