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Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, falls ten days after Rosh Hashanah. When the Temple stood in Jerusalem, the High Priest effected atonement for the entire people through an elaborate ritual. Today, in the absence of the Temple, each of us stands, alone, together, naked as it were, before God. Yom Kippur is the dramatic culmination of the entire season of teshuvah, repentance. On Yom Kippur, Jews abstain from eating, drinking, bathing, sexual relations, and the wearing of leather (a sign of luxury) for 25 hours. Jews dress in white and traditionally spend most of the day in synagogue.

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May polar bears swim safely / to the ice flows, and may we love / our way back to soft tickling cheeks, / hot breath, moist lips
an iceberg floats in the water
An alternate version of Al Chet and Ashamnu for the #MeToo era
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my bones / my spirit / my heart / cry out for grace
a person's silhouette is visible, squatting with their head in their hand
Reflection prompts for the seven weeks between Tisha B’Av and Rosh Hashanah using the sefirot
view from the top of a long beige spiral staircase

A poem preparing oneself for Yom Kippur

Girl enjoying free with ocean / sea background.

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