The High Holy Days
Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009
This is a very special time for me. The High Holy Days is a time for us Jews to make a conscious decision to be in sync with G-d’s will for us. We do that by regreting our transgressions in the past year, choosing to change our ways and committing ourselves to use our gifts to fulfill our mission in this planet. We reflect on the year past and rethink our choices, decide what we want to keep in our lives and what we want to let go.
The beginning of the year is called Rosh HaShanah and after that there is a period of ten days filled with intensive soul searching until we get to Yom Kippur, the day of atonement. During this period we are called to repent, rethink and make different life choices. We can do that during this time because there is a great deal of clarity coming to the world. On Yom Kippur we confess to G-d all of our transgressions with the realization that they too can contribute to His plan for us. We realize that even our transgressions are for our betterment and for us to learn crucial lessons that can propel us to a higher level of consciousness. When we humble ourselves and recognize our mistakes, we use their darkness to inject light in our lives and learn from them.
I look forward to Yom Kippur every year. It is a day where we fast for 25 hours in order to connect to our spiritual side. By doing that we are able to immerse ourselves in the all-embracing oneness of G-d and emerge pure. On that day, the light of peace and possibility shines into the world, and we can see ourselves and our actions from G-d’s perspective. In that light, even our transgressions of the past become blessings for the future, the darkness now serves to enhance the light, and the ugly conflicts now increase the splendor and beauty of the love and the conneciton we share with G-d.
On Yom Kippur we celebrate forgiveness. We are given an opportunity to start anew and to cherish the new found possibilities ahead of us. It’s a time filled with potential and new beginnings. Our call is to act on them and make them happen through our choices.
The lesson for all of us, Jews and non-Jews alike, is that there is always a possibility for renewal and to start again once we commit ourselves to it. May we all have a sweet and peaceful year ahead of us filled with blessings!
Shanah Tovah Umetukah!
With energy,
Ana
Yes, Hong Kong is hip and to prove it, my friend Liza Monica developed a great website called… well, Hip Hong Kong! I first came across her website when I arrived here and was looking for various places such as restaurants, hair dresser, things to do and information about Hong Kong in general. Eventually I met Liza and she turned out to be a great collaborator and a lovely person!
Many people make more money than they ever dreamed possible, yet are more financially stressed than ever before. In this current financial crisis we are going through many can relate to this reality. What a vast majority of people do as they earn more money is to continue to spend as much, if not more, than they make. They buy a bigger home, a nicer car, go on more expensive vacations, wear more expensive clothing and so on. They spend, spend and spend some more. Before you insist you will never do this, consider that you probably will - unless you conciously make a vow not to.
I was inspired listening to the words of President Barack Obama. I chose to believe he will provide the leadership that our country so desperately needs. We are heading to a new direction and I believe it will be the right path. We are facing challenges and new choices and the potential to grow as a nation and as individuals is exponential at this moment.