The day called Yom Kippur, Day of Atonement, is on Wednesday 26th September this year (2012). It always falls 10 days after Rosh HaShanna (the New Year). Rather than being a time of ecstatic celebration, it's really a time for reflection and putting right all that has gone wrong between you and your fellow human. That means recognizing what you've done wrong, asking for forgiveness and forgiving others in turn.
It's also a time to align back with the purpose that the Creator formed each and every one of us. Repentance in Hebrew is Teshuvah, literally it means return. Throughout the year we veer off the course that we're supposed to follow. On Yom Kippur we don't eat or drink for 25 hours, take some time to pray (i.e. reflect on what we need, not what we want) and make an effort to return to our original purpose.
This past year I've made a conscious effort not to save up all my teshuvah for Yom Kippur but instead to correct it as soon as I'm aware of the things that I've done wrong. However, if I have caused any offense or insult with this blog, I would like to offer you my sincere apologies.
If on the other hand this blog has made you look at things in a new light and challeneged you to re-evaluate part of your world-view, then my work here has had some benefit.
The second one. Definitely. :)
ReplyDeleteThis Yom Kippur had me slightly anxious: several intelligence assets/probable disino agents were saying that this would be the date that Israel bombs Iran based on their previous history of attacking during holy days.
Fingers crossed that appears not to be the case. Although what the Iranian president said in NYC today was pretty inflammatory. This blasted apocalypse, man.
Glad to hear it :-)
DeleteMy view on the whole "who will fire first" question is that we're looking at the beautiful assistant strutting on the stage. The computer viruses, sabotage of electrical supplies, naval movements and exercises in the Gulf, the battles for control of Syria and Sinai are where the real action is happening.
Actually speaking of beautiful assistants and magicians, I wonder if these men have this man in their sights. I'm guessing that they're not the kind to send him a welcome hamper. The theatre tickets made me laugh out loud.
Just like all the strutting on the world stage that is happening right now, I expect that the Apocalypse (if it does happen soon) will blind side a lot of people because their focus will be elsewhere. Follow the money, read a story from lots of angles and read analysis by people with their heads not up their backsides - that is how I stay up-to-date with geopolitics.