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Traditionally, Yom Kippur deals with the evidence of God’s providence, justice, and mercy in the face of evil, or why bad things can happen to good people. Obviously the universe makes sense, so there must be something to atone for … yom ha-kippurim. The individual can offer his own sacrifice of flesh by fasting. Discomfort has long been seen as a way to atone, or make good. How do we, as Secular Humanistic Jews,view and observe this very serious and traditional anniversary of creation of the day of atonement and judgment? We mark it as a cleansing time, a time for letting go one’s regrets and guilts and getting clear with self. For us, atonement lies in a combination of words and change of behavior, in making good with other people and then with self. As Humanists, we know that we must judge ourselves. We know that we can only atone for our misdeeds by making things right with other people in this life and in this world. We cannot depend on any authority outside ourselves to make up for our missteps. The natural consequences of our actions and the quality of our relationships with other people provide us punishment or reward for our actions in this life. Our observance of Yom Kippur includes music, readings, meditative silence, and a solemn remembrance of all our loved ones who are only with us in our hearts and memories. Our celebration is based on historical Jewish understanding, but is re-fashioned to reflect our humanistic philosphy. Some of us choose to fast in the traditional manner. Regardless of that choice, we do one thing as a community: we all bring food for a large donation to a local food closet, symbolically giving the food we each would have consumed on this day to those who have greater need of it. |
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