As we are only a few hours away from Yom Kippur, I decided it would be a good time to share my thoughts about the day. One of the most ironic aspects of Yom Kippur is the after Yom Kippur events. Specifically, within minutes of finishing our process of confessing our sins while fasting for 25 hours, we already ask for forgiveness again. The most common answer for this has to do with the reality that once Neilah is over, people rush through the evening service to get home and eat. Therefore, we need to ask for forgiveness for not putting effort into this first post-fast event.

Perhaps, we if recognize that Yom Kippur is not the be all and end all of penance and change, it is easier to understand. Most people tend to enter the Day of Atonement and leave basically the same. We confess, confess, confess, but do we really think about it. Do we try to improve ourselves? For other people, Yom Kippur is the climax of the past 10 days and preceding month. Between Selichot and all the added things done to prepare for Yom Kippur, there might be a few thoughts about change. Then comes Maariv after the fast and we are already back to our old habits, rushing to get to the next thing. Maybe this year, we should try to consider the possibility that Yom Kippur, while climactic, is not the climax to the plot of our lives. It is another step along the path of improvement. It is a time of introspection, of desired change, but yet it is not enough. We must continue seeking forgiveness for our mistakes so that we might continue to improve ourselves.

With that, I wish my few readers a Gmar Chatima Tova and a meaningful fast.