The True Mirror Image

This Tuesday night & Wednesday is the holy time of Yom Kippur. We know it as a day of fasting, lengthy prayer services, and secret day dreams of different break-fast meal options :) But what is the significance & power of these 24 hours, at its core? I spent the day at the beach today. Not swimming or surfing, but rather doing the "tashlich service" (throwing bread to the fish, representing our desire to turn from bad to good) with local Jewish day school kids. One of the exorcises we did, was giving out little mirrors out for the kids to look into. They were asked what they saw. Sone said "my face", others "the sand behind", still others "my eyes." "True, you saw those things," we said. "But eyes are the windows to the soul. When looking at ourselves and at others, we can just see outer physical figures. Or we can look deeper into the soul within."

During these days between Rosh Hashana & Yom Kippur, and especially the day itself, we have the ability to reach into our souls, one's essence within, who we truly are. We primarily identify ourselves with what we do, not who we are inside. 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 - known as "Yechidah" - is revealed. This occurs primarily during "ne'ilah" - the 5th & last prayer of the day 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 a beautiful idea. It's not that the gates are closing with us on the outside, with our last chances to request forgiveness and a good year finished, but rather that we are closed in with G-d on the inside, in the deepest connection of embrace. During this time, let's try to focus less on the break-fast meal of cream cheese & lox, or even on the prayer pages, but to try and peer past the physical & material, and look into 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,"if properly translated means "Return." While possible throughout the entire year, at this time G-d Gives us a special, sanctified haven in time to re-connect and return to our true, inner selves. 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.

This year, look into the mirror and see the truly beautiful person you are. Have an easy fast and a sweet new year!

Shabbat Shalom!