We offer blessing to you Holy One for making us responsible to wrap ourselves in the values and practices of our people.
We begin our Kol Nidrei service this evening at 6:30pm with these words, acknowledging the Divine and Holy Guide of our Universe who invites us to raise ourselves up and wrap ourselves in the mitzvot - the ways of Jewish life and living that help us live sacred lives of holiness. Kol Nidrei is the one evening during the year where we cloak ourselves in tallit along with this bracha. Watching the community dress ourselves in prayer shawls of many textures and colors is like witnessing the wings of the Shekhinah embrace and envelop the community in love. If you've been contemplating trying out a tallit, this is a great opportunity to do so. We'll have time to put on tallit together as we open our prayer service on zoom.
Our tradition calls post b'nai mitzvah aged individuals to engage in a full fast, refraining from food and water from Sunday evening until the sound of the Shofar Monday night - at 7:23pm. As you move through Yom Kippur, pay attention to your body. There are times we are asked to stand. Standing could mean elevated on one's feet. It could also be sitting taller in your seat or paying more attention to how you are seated in your core. If you are not able to stand in any way in those moments, no one will turn to you in judgment. Some of us take medication that requires water (and even food). Do what you need to care for your health. Eat less than you normally would if possible, it's not the day for a 5 course meal. Zoom neighbors will appreciate not watching people eat. But please, put your health first.
Tradition has us refrain from wearing leather on Yom Kippur which is why you'll often see people wearing tennis shoes (I have now dated myself with that reference). I've always set aside a pair of Keds for Yom Kippur. This year I'll have flip flops. Wear what you wish. Remember it is also a tradition to wear white, even after Labor Day!
I invite everyone who wishes to bring a Havdalah candle to their zoom screen towards the close of our prayer service on Monday evening. How glorious it will be to see a light in every window. If you do not have a Havdalah candle, put two Shabbat candles, tapers or birthday candles together. The flame of the Havdalah candle represents a torch lighting our way into the future.
A reminder that we will blow shofar at 7:23pm, not before. If you feel called to conclude earlier, join Cantor Halev for Neilah at the Classic Service which will end before this time. And if you have a shofar - big or small, curly or straight have it close by for the final blast of the ram's horn catapulting us into 5781. The concluding moments of Yom Kippur are really magical. Sign in to our virtual sanctuary so we may close the day together.
This year has brought so much challenge, and blessing too. It is a gift to be together on these days of at-one-ment, peeling away the coverings we so carefully construct around our hearts and souls throughout the year. I hope we will each find one prayer - or word! - in the Mahzor, one melody or song that calls out to us as we enter this first chapter of love in the new year. May the holy day of Yom Kippur offer the safety in which to feel our true vulnerability and open to the year ahead as our best selves.
With prayers for a loving and transformative fast. May we each write ourselves into the book of life for good, wellbeing and love in the coming year.
G'mar Hatimah Tovah and Tzom Kal, rg
Congregation Habonim 103 West End Ave New York, NY 10023
