Yom Kippur is a day of hope and optimism, in addition to being a solemn day of soul-searching. Yom Kippur provides unique awareness of one's own character and track record, as well as the opportunity to upgrade relationships with relatives, friends, associates and the community at large. Judaism's holiest day focuses on forgiveness and highlights humility, fallibility, soul-searching, faith, compassion, thoughtfulness, being considerate, accepting responsibility and magnanimity. The first human being, Adam, was created on the first day of Tishrei, the first month of the Jewish calendar. Human beings are afforded an opportunity to recreate themselves spiritually each year on Yom Kippur, the 10th day of Tishrei -- an Akkadian word for forgiveness and genesis. Yom Kippur culminates 10 days of genuine, heart-driven atonement, which begin on Rosh Hashanah. Ten has special significance in Judaism: God's abbreviation is the 10th Hebrew letter yod; there are 10 attributes of God -- divine perfection -- that were highlighted during the creation; the Ten Commandments; the Ten Plagues; there are 10 reasons for blowing the shofar; one is commanded to extend a 10% gift to God (tithe); Ten Martyrs (Jewish leaders) were tortured and murdered by the Roman Empire; there were 10 generations between Adam and Noah and between Noah and Abraham; a 10-person quorum (minyan) is required for a collective Jewish prayer, etc. Yom Kippur is observed on the 10th day of the Jewish month of Tishrei, whose corresponding astrological sign is Libra. Libra symbolizes key themes of Yom Kippur: scales, justice, balance, truth, symmetry, sensitivity and optimism. Libra is ruled by the planet Venus ("Noga" in Hebrew), which reflects divine light and love of the other person. Noga is the name of my eldest granddaughter. Yom Kippur is a day of forgiveness for sins committed against God. It is customary to dedicate the eve of Yom Kippur to apologies for sins committed against fellow human beings. However, apology or compensation are not sufficient if they do not elicit expressed forgiveness by the injured person. Yom Kippur commemorates God's covenant with the Jewish people and God's forgiveness for the sin of the Golden Calf. Yom Kippur and the jubilee highlight liberty and subordination to God. The jubilee -- sanctifying each 50th year by proclaiming liberty, as inscribed on the Liberty Bell -- is announced by blowing the shofar on Yom Kippur. The jubilee liberates people physically and spiritually. The word "jubilee" is a Hebrew synonym for shofar. The Hebrew word "kippur" ("atonement" or "repentance") is a derivative of the Biblical word "kaporet," the cover of the Holy Ark in the Sanctuary, and "kopher," the cover of Noah's Ark and the Holy Altar in the Temple. Yom Kippur resembles a spiritual cover (dome), which separates the holy and the mundane, spiritualism and materialism. The kippah -- skullcap -- which covers one's head during prayers, reflects a spiritual dome. Yom Kippur calls for repentance -- "teshuvah" in Hebrew. The root of the word "teshuvah" is similar to the root of the Hebrew word for return, returning to positive values, and "shvitah" -- cessation of mundane thoughts, actions and eating. It is also similar to the root of Shabbat, Yom Kippur is also called Shabbat Shabbaton -- the supreme Shabbat. "Tzom," the Hebrew spelling of "fast" -- abstinence from food -- reflects the substance of Yom Kippur. The Hebrew word for "fast" is the root of the Hebrew word for "reduction" and "shrinking" of one's wrongdoing. It is also the root of the Hebrew words for "slave" and "eternity" -- representing eternal enslavement to God, but not to human beings. "Fast" is also the root of the Hebrew words for "oneself" (being oneself), "atzum" ("awesome"), "otzman" ("power"), and "atzmaut" (independence).
