A Staff Writer's Yom Kippur Reflection

by Talia Herbst, SSLI '25

Editors Note: In this article, PPN Staff Writer Talia Herbst reflects on the past few weeks and shares her feelings about observing Yom Kippur amidst the anniversary of October 7.

Yom Kippur this year feels very different. Not only does it arrive late, but its placement in the week is unique as well. First, we just had Rosh Hashanah. Then, in between, on Monday, we just had one year since October 7, which was a tough day for all. Now, tomorrow, to close out the week, is Yom Kippur, which falls over Shabbat.

Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are ten days apart. These ten days are known as the Aseret Yimei Teshuvah. During these ten days, we are supposed to ask for forgiveness. However, in the times we are in now, it is hard to ask for forgiveness when all we want to ask for is hope for all the hostages to be brought home and for there to be peace.

Yom Kippur serves as a day of atonement, but also as a day of reflection. From sundown to sundown, if able, we fast for 25 hours. We fast to repent, and a component of that repentance is suffering. While fasting is not fun, and I certainly am not looking forward to it, I think it is important to look forward towards a fresh beginning and personal renewal.

Today, in honor of Yom Kippur, students made "Mechila-grams," or notes asking for forgiveness, for their friends. (E. Schlissel)

The two main themes of Yom Kippur are forgiveness and renewal. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur go hand in hand with each other. In Hebrew we say, “בְּראֹשׁ הַשָּׁנָה יִכָּתֵבוּן וּבְיוֹם צוֹם כִּפּוּר יֵחָתֵמוּן” which means, “On Rosh Hashanah it is inscribed, And on Yom Kippur it is sealed.” God decides our fate. If we are good, we will be written and sealed in the Book of Life. If not, we will not be written and sealed in the Book of Life. It is key to always strive to be inscribed in the book and to always do, and try to be, better.
In a world filled with so much hate and violence, especially projected towards Jews, it is so important to me to always go the extra step, whether that means helping someone in need, giving Tzedakah, spending time with someone you don’t normally spend time with, or giving back to your community.

To me, Yom Kippur is a day where I relax and reflect about the past year while also thinking about the year to come. I go to shul while thinking about food and water all day. I go back home and take a nap. Then, I go back to shul for Neilah, where I hear my mom read Jonah. The Book of Jonah is not only special to my family because of my brother named Jonah, but it is a unique story that we only hear once a year. Jonah disobeys God and does not listen to God's request. Because of that, he is swallowed by a big fish. The important lesson here is to always listen to authority and to know that there are consequences for our actions. Everything happens for a reason. This story is a great representation of how, if we don’t act right, or make poor decisions, we still pay for it.

The story of Jonah and the big fish not only relates to us as people, but it also teaches us, in regard to Yom Kippur, to look back on our actions, ask for forgiveness, and repent so we can be inscribed into the Book of Life. As we hear the last blast of the Shofar, let's keep the past in the past and look forward to a fresh start.

Wishing everyone an easy and meaningful fast!

Talia Herbst is a writer for Paw Print Now and has been published on the site since December 2021. Talia is currently a senior at the Schechter School of Long Island and can be reached at the following email address: therbst25@schechterli.org.