GMAR CHATIMA TOVA!

  Category: General Topics

As Yom Kippur draws closer, we pray that each of us will achieve a chatima tova (ie, that we be sealed for good and blessing).

We view Yom Kippur as a journey- one that begins at the first plaintive note of Kol Nidrei and ends with the tekia gedola that marks the end of the fast. During that time, we journey to a special place deep within our hearts and souls as we literally beg God to decree a good fate in the year ahead for each of us. In addition, we will journey to the literary site of the Ten Martyrs as well as to the incredible ceremony enacted by the Cohen Gadol on Yom Kippur. All in all, if we take Yom Kippur seriously, the end of the fast will leave us exhausted and exhilerated at the same time.

For close to 30 years now, we have ended Kol Nidrei night with words chosen from Robert Frost’s STOPPING BY WOODS ON A SNOWY EVENING:

“The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.”

Gmar chatima tova! May your journey take you to a good place!
(RJR)