As Yom Kippur approaches, may all of Israel have an easy and meaningful fast in facing the One Judge who holds us close to his heart. All of Israel is a term used to remind us that we are all responsible for one another. Hence, all of Israel is one body and each of us is a limb of that body. Through the test of time, we connect through the processes of living and dying.
On Yom Kippur we acknowledge our processes for healing our past misdeeds of the prior year. It is a somber Day of Atonement and the holiest day of the Jewish year. Many of us will be in temple in penitence. Penitence is a quality of standing in public sorrow and a precursor to receiving forgiveness of our misdeeds. One ritual to prepare ourselves in penitence is to stand before a body of water and experience the ritual of Tashlich.
Tashlich is a heartfelt prayer and meditation experience where all of Israel cast breadcrumbs into the water to symbolize the releasing of our misdeeds. Most temples gather together on Rosh Hashanah for this ritual. Ever since I left the orthodox world, I have been an avid practitioner of spontaneous prayer.
Yesterday, as I was driving to perform a Funeral, I sought to find a sweet looking body of water in which I could perform my Tashlich ritual. I knew I’d be driving by Butterfly World in Coconut Creek, however I saw a sweet natural pond in front of the Coconut Creek City Hall, which drew me in. I walked towards the waters edge and read a poem found on RitualWell.org (click to read) .
Hineini, here I am. I am ready to release myself from my misdeeds. I have prepared myself to let go of all that which doesn’t serve me. As I release these crumbs of bread into the water, all that happened is released. My heart is ready to be truer that true. May my gracious heart receive blessings in the new year. I need you to renew my soul. Amen.
As we acknowledge our misdeeds, a worthy follow up process is to recognize our mitzvothwith affirmations. A few examples of such are; we are loving, we are kind, we are devoted… When we do this, we strengthen our limbs of all of Israel. My invitation is that you try this as you face the One Judge. In other words, as we pound upon our hearts, may we do so with respect of life’s challenges and with the intention to heal.
On Yom Kippur afternoon, the custom of Yizkor elevates the mitzvoth of the departed souls of the bereaved. It’s a tender time of reverence and healing unto our blood lineage and provides our sacred ancestors greater peace in the beyond. In lieu of sustainable food, here is some spiritual sustenance for the bereaved: As we heal them beyond the grave, we heal us before the grave.
May we do our best to acknowledge our misdeeds and recognize our mitzvoth on Yom Kippur as we face the One Judge and may our fasting be with ease.
“Ketivah v’chatima tovah” May you be inscribed and sealed in the book of life!
Warmest blessings,
Rabbi Melinda “Bracha” Bernstein
(954) 901-1355
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