Beneath the Surface

Tom. night & Saturday, this coming Shabbat, is the holiest day of the Jewish calendar - Yom Kippur.
A day of fasting, lengthy prayer service, and secret day dreams of the break-fast meal... But what is the significance & power of this day really, at its core?

The answer is exactly that: the core. On this day we have the ability to reach into our core, the essence
of who we truly are. For generally we identify ourselves with what we do, not who we are.
Behind every experience, there's an I experiencing it.
And no matter what path we have led so far in life, no matter what negative actions we have done, the true "I" in us
remains unscathed. At our core we are pure and limitless, our essence unscathed through all the mud.
We are not our actions - and must always remember that our inner light can never be extinguished, through thick & thin.
At this time of year we often blow the shofar, for the shofar represents the simple cry of the soul - beyond our usual words & outer expression.

On Yom Kippur, Jewish Mysticism explains, this core of our beings, this essence of our souls known as "Yechidah" - is revealed
throughout the day, but primarily during "ne'ilah" - the 5th & last prayer which corresponds to this 5th level of the soul. Ne'ilah means "closing" - representing the closing of the heavenly gates at the end of Yom Kippur. But our mystics explain, that the gates aren't closing with us on the outside, but we are closed in with G-d on the inside, in the deepest connection and embrace.
Thus, we have the power on this day to not just focus on the break-fast meal of cream cheese & lox, or even just the prayer pages,
but to try and peer past the physical, material world around us - to the deeper core of the world & our inner selves.
For much of the other 364 days of the year, society succeeds in getting our attention diverted from ever thinking about our
personal purpose for existing. From ever trying to realize our fullest potential.

"Teshuvah," often translated as "Repentance," really translates as "Return." While possible throughout the entire year,
in these 24 hrs. G-d Gives us a special, sanctified haven in time to re-connect and return to our true selves, beyond our actions.
And then in turn we connect with G-d on a level beyond our usual relationship - to a place beyond our sins & mistakes, where all can be forgiven.

So Let's take advantage! Have an easy fast :)

-Daniel
S. Diego, CA
P.S. Please forgive me if I have ever wronged you, and may you & yours be blessed & sealed for a sweet yr. materially, physically, & spiritually!