Translation:May You Be Inscribed For a Good Year!: Yom Kippur

by Cemach Feldstein

It is the holiest Jewish holiday; the day of moral purity, the day of repentance and atonement, the beginning of life anew. It is our great human strength that we can sum up and emphasize that which has occurred in the past and, with a determined decision of will, open a new accounting for ourselves and others. Until this time, we have been foolish, evil, and unjust. Now, we desire to become otherwise; better, finer and more just. Therein lays the opportunity for our constant personal and social renewal for the sake of the uninterrupted perfection of our souls.

Our Yom Kippur possesses a special magic. No matter how far a Jew has been torn away from Judaism, around Yom Kippur there awakens in him the old historic call. It rekindles anew from the already extinguished Jewish spark and he goes to synagogue to hear Kol Nidre. He goes to hear again that ancient tear and blood soaked melody, and thereby reconnects himself with his people.

No holiday cements our people together more than Yom Kippur. Yet, Yom Kippur is something even more than this for us. It is the day of human renewal. It is the day when we pray to God for eternal peace between peoples.

May it come to pass that the New Year will bring the desired deliverance of peace for the whole world and for our Jewish People.