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| Yom Kippur: readers' stories | Yom Kippur: readers' stories |
| (2 days later) | |
| For youmightthinkthat Yom Kippur is a time to reflect and honour thoughs who are no longer alive. | For youmightthinkthat Yom Kippur is a time to reflect and honour thoughs who are no longer alive. |
| The old and the new - a time to reflect. | The old and the new - a time to reflect. |
| We'll take two Machzors (festival prayer books) to the synagogue. A new one and my wife's grandfather's. In our family Yom Kippur is a day to reflect on our lives, and to remember and honour - in the way we live our lives - those who are no longer with us. | We'll take two Machzors (festival prayer books) to the synagogue. A new one and my wife's grandfather's. In our family Yom Kippur is a day to reflect on our lives, and to remember and honour - in the way we live our lives - those who are no longer with us. |
| Sent via GuardianWitness | Sent via GuardianWitness |
| By | By |
| youmightthinkthat | youmightthinkthat |
| 3 October 2014, 10:55 | 3 October 2014, 10:55 |
| In London, JasonFilm admired the mutual respect between Jews and Muslims on their way to worship on Friday. | In London, JasonFilm admired the mutual respect between Jews and Muslims on their way to worship on Friday. |
| Yom Kippur in St John's Wood | Yom Kippur in St John's Wood |
| You know, all mentioning this slaughter and sacrifice is just mystification. I don't know anyone who massacres a chicken or a lamb. I went to synagogue in St Johns Wood today, as Yom Kippur falls on Eidh, so here was a tiny slice of London, where Jews in kippah and Muslims in white were all on the way to their places of worship, nodding silently to each other, hopefully realising we were celebrating the same thing, even telling the same biblical-era myths re Abraham and Isaac. It's not helpful to depict either religion as barbaric animal slaughterers, as if the streets of London will be running with blood and sins today - from what I could see, they were filled with mutual respect (for each other's fortitude in fasting, I should imagine - maybe people on the 5:2 diet will understand too) and a spiritual calm borne of reflection. I think we each admired the others' commitment to having put aside time to dedicate thoughts above the carnal or commercial . Tell you what though, right about now, my tummy's totally rumbling and my kids have just offered me some apple and honey, knowing I can't have it. | You know, all mentioning this slaughter and sacrifice is just mystification. I don't know anyone who massacres a chicken or a lamb. I went to synagogue in St Johns Wood today, as Yom Kippur falls on Eidh, so here was a tiny slice of London, where Jews in kippah and Muslims in white were all on the way to their places of worship, nodding silently to each other, hopefully realising we were celebrating the same thing, even telling the same biblical-era myths re Abraham and Isaac. It's not helpful to depict either religion as barbaric animal slaughterers, as if the streets of London will be running with blood and sins today - from what I could see, they were filled with mutual respect (for each other's fortitude in fasting, I should imagine - maybe people on the 5:2 diet will understand too) and a spiritual calm borne of reflection. I think we each admired the others' commitment to having put aside time to dedicate thoughts above the carnal or commercial . Tell you what though, right about now, my tummy's totally rumbling and my kids have just offered me some apple and honey, knowing I can't have it. |
| Sent via GuardianWitness | Sent via GuardianWitness |
| By | By |
| JasonFilm | JasonFilm |
| 4 October 2014, 14:44 | 4 October 2014, 14:44 |
| ID8357483 finds fasting for 25 hours a challenge but one that is full of meaning. | ID8357483 finds fasting for 25 hours a challenge but one that is full of meaning. |
| Yom Kippur in the Midlands | Yom Kippur in the Midlands |
| We are a Liberal Jewish family living near Derby. For us Yom Kippur revolves around going to Synagogue in Nottingham. This year security is a high priority for our community as the summer has seen an increase in anti-Semitic events due to the Gaza conflict. On a personal level the day is hard as going without food for 25 hours is a challenge particularly when you still have to prepare food for your children. That said, it is a challenge that I find meaningful as I am well aware that for many people in the world, even in this country, living with hunger is an ever present reality. My discomfort is nothing compared to theirs but it acts as a reminder to do what I can to help others. Social action is a major part of being a liberal Jew. | We are a Liberal Jewish family living near Derby. For us Yom Kippur revolves around going to Synagogue in Nottingham. This year security is a high priority for our community as the summer has seen an increase in anti-Semitic events due to the Gaza conflict. On a personal level the day is hard as going without food for 25 hours is a challenge particularly when you still have to prepare food for your children. That said, it is a challenge that I find meaningful as I am well aware that for many people in the world, even in this country, living with hunger is an ever present reality. My discomfort is nothing compared to theirs but it acts as a reminder to do what I can to help others. Social action is a major part of being a liberal Jew. |
| We do not practice Kapparot and, in reality, only the traditionally orthodox do. As an RE teacher I find it frustrating that many textbooks and articles about Yom Kippur illustrate the day with a ritual that lots of Jews don't actually do. Yes, it looks exotic and attention grabbing but it tends to accentuate difference when in today's world finding commonality has more value. Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur is a period of reflection and self examination that parallels what Christians do during Lent, Muslims during Ramadan and what many non religious people do at various times in their lives. | We do not practice Kapparot and, in reality, only the traditionally orthodox do. As an RE teacher I find it frustrating that many textbooks and articles about Yom Kippur illustrate the day with a ritual that lots of Jews don't actually do. Yes, it looks exotic and attention grabbing but it tends to accentuate difference when in today's world finding commonality has more value. Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur is a period of reflection and self examination that parallels what Christians do during Lent, Muslims during Ramadan and what many non religious people do at various times in their lives. |
| Sent via GuardianWitness | Sent via GuardianWitness |
| By | By |
| ID8357483 | ID8357483 |
| 3 October 2014, 9:12 | 3 October 2014, 9:12 |
| At Kingston Liberal Synagogue Gabrielquotes glowsticks made an appearance at the Havdallah ceremony. | At Kingston Liberal Synagogue Gabrielquotes glowsticks made an appearance at the Havdallah ceremony. |
| Liberal synagogue does Yom Kippur with glowsticks | Liberal synagogue does Yom Kippur with glowsticks |
| At Kingston Liberal Synagogue, the traditional end-of-Yom Kippur havdallah ceremony, normally featuring a twisted wax candle, was opened to the masses with the use in credible glowsticks. | At Kingston Liberal Synagogue, the traditional end-of-Yom Kippur havdallah ceremony, normally featuring a twisted wax candle, was opened to the masses with the use in credible glowsticks. |
| Sent via GuardianWitness | Sent via GuardianWitness |
| By | By |
| Gabrielquotes | Gabrielquotes |
| 5 October 2014, 22:02 | 5 October 2014, 22:02 |
| Ben Jason Tolkin shares his tale of the importance of respect but still struggles with the practicalities of fasting. | Ben Jason Tolkin shares his tale of the importance of respect but still struggles with the practicalities of fasting. |
| Keep It Down Out There | Keep It Down Out There |
| After 27 years of practice, you'd think I had this nailed. But to be honest, my thoughts and feelings change every year. | After 27 years of practice, you'd think I had this nailed. But to be honest, my thoughts and feelings change every year. |
| I grew up in an Orthodox household with both my parents and little sister in Leeds. I had my Bar Mitzvah at 13, and carried on like any normal child, sneaking out of the synagogue, being a nuisance and making a racket, often getting told off by the elders. | I grew up in an Orthodox household with both my parents and little sister in Leeds. I had my Bar Mitzvah at 13, and carried on like any normal child, sneaking out of the synagogue, being a nuisance and making a racket, often getting told off by the elders. |
| During my time at high school the fasting element became real but manageable, though, I started to question my personal belief; through the means of scientific knowledge or a lack of interest. It wasn't until 18 when I fully gave up my faith. After an incident involving my little sister, it seemed wrong that such things could happen and yet no justice be served by the lord. In essence I had taken my bat and ball home. | During my time at high school the fasting element became real but manageable, though, I started to question my personal belief; through the means of scientific knowledge or a lack of interest. It wasn't until 18 when I fully gave up my faith. After an incident involving my little sister, it seemed wrong that such things could happen and yet no justice be served by the lord. In essence I had taken my bat and ball home. |
| I still went to the synagogue, though purely out of respect for my father more than anything, though at the time it is fair to say we were both there for our parents. | I still went to the synagogue, though purely out of respect for my father more than anything, though at the time it is fair to say we were both there for our parents. |
| Into my early twenties and University has been and gone, working full time, suddenly my thoughts and feelings change. Time spent with the people I grew up with here and my family seem to be getting less and less. It's suddenly comfortable again, the old hymns hit home with the Rabbi's rousing voice the prayer books, still heavy and long, become a point of interest as the subtext becomes clear with definitions. | Into my early twenties and University has been and gone, working full time, suddenly my thoughts and feelings change. Time spent with the people I grew up with here and my family seem to be getting less and less. It's suddenly comfortable again, the old hymns hit home with the Rabbi's rousing voice the prayer books, still heavy and long, become a point of interest as the subtext becomes clear with definitions. |
| My friends who I often don't see, because they left the city, or merely because of time, are gathered round, even if it is briefly, it is nice to see everyone again. Commenting on how we are all growing up, "my beards turning ginger...apparently its my Great Grandmother Ruby's fault" is always a good line to open with, before we talk about people getting married, looking older, or the gentleman in the front row slowly being eaten by his suit as each year he gets smaller but the suit seems to grow. | My friends who I often don't see, because they left the city, or merely because of time, are gathered round, even if it is briefly, it is nice to see everyone again. Commenting on how we are all growing up, "my beards turning ginger...apparently its my Great Grandmother Ruby's fault" is always a good line to open with, before we talk about people getting married, looking older, or the gentleman in the front row slowly being eaten by his suit as each year he gets smaller but the suit seems to grow. |
| I still don't hold a deep belief in my faith, I still go out of respect for my family, but the difference now is that I understand what that respect means. I try to become more involved and I feel better for doing so, but the faith isn't there for me. It saddens me at times, in my opinion, personally, the world has changed from when I was a teenager. | I still don't hold a deep belief in my faith, I still go out of respect for my family, but the difference now is that I understand what that respect means. I try to become more involved and I feel better for doing so, but the faith isn't there for me. It saddens me at times, in my opinion, personally, the world has changed from when I was a teenager. |
| This time of year I remember my family and memories I had growing up, and reflect gladly on the stories we tell each other. Judaism is as much about community as it is the praying just as it is in most religions. | This time of year I remember my family and memories I had growing up, and reflect gladly on the stories we tell each other. Judaism is as much about community as it is the praying just as it is in most religions. |
| It's just a shame that in 27 years of practice, no-one taught me how to cope with a sore throat when your fasting. | It's just a shame that in 27 years of practice, no-one taught me how to cope with a sore throat when your fasting. |
| Sent via GuardianWitness | Sent via GuardianWitness |
| By | By |
| Ben Jason Tolkin | Ben Jason Tolkin |
| 4 October 2014, 18:13 | 4 October 2014, 18:13 |
| For FormerBritishJew this year marked new first for her family. | |
| New firsts for my family | |
| This Yom Kippur was the first time both my older children fasted. It's traditional for children to observe at least three fasts in the year before they become a bar or bat mitzvah - an adult in the eyes of the Torah. My son is, please G-d, about to be bar mitzvah a few weeks after Yom Kippur, and my daughter, with the help of G-d, in the summer. (The ages are 13 for boys and 12 for girls.) | |
| We went to our local Orthodox shul (synagogue) on Friday night for Kol Nidrei, the service that annuls any rash vow or promise we've made in the past year, so we can start the new year fresh. We walked home, then woke up early the next day for a full day in shul. When there was a break in services at half past two in the afternoon, I walked home with m youngest son, leaving my husband and older children at shul. They told me later they dozed, studied Torah, read mystery novels (in the case of my nine year old) and chatted with the other congregants before services resumed at five. | |
| As I walked home with my little one, it was raining, but the streets were full of Jews going to and from the various synagogues in our area, all wishing eachother a "gmar chatima tova" - tht we be sealed in the book of life for a good year. At home, I read to my little one, then daavened (prayed) the final Neila service, said once a year on Yom Kippur. This year I paid particular attention the words asking G-d to spare us from plague - with the Ebola virus spreading, these words seemed to leap off the page in a way they never did before. | |
| After sunset, we all gathered at my parents' house for a break-fast party: lox, bagels, cream cheese and vegetables. Afterwards, we went outside to say Kiddush Levanan, the Jewish blessing over the moon, which is traditionally said the evening following Yom Kippur. | |
| Sent via GuardianWitness | |
| By | |
| FormerBritishJew | |
| 7 October 2014, 20:30 |