We are currently in the Yomim Nora'im - the 10 days between Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur - known as the Days of Awe. During these 10 days, we are to focus on Teshuva (Repentance) and preparation for Yom Kippur. Special insertions are added to our daily prayers, emphasizing the themes of G-d as King, G-d's judgement, and G-d's holiness. We also recall prayers referring to the Book of Life.Remember us for life, O King Who desires life, and inscribe us in the Book of Life - for Your sake, O Living G-d ... Who is like You, Merciful Father, Who recalls His creatures mercifully for life ... Blessed are You, our G-d, the Holy King. (From additions to the Amidah during the Days of Awe).
These 10 Days of Awe (and the whole High Holiday period) are meant to particularly recall G-d's mercy. As Rabbi Wayne Dosick notes, although our "prayers are solemn and serious, they are also filled with joy and with hope. For Judaism teaches that G-d is ready and very willing to forgive the transgressions of those who come in sincere repentance."
HaShem's desire is for relationship with us. And the High Holidays are opportunities to meet with G-d in the most intimate of times. The 10 days help us to more intently focus on, and deal with, those things which hold us back in life, and from the presence of HaShem.
Although we should be focusing on repentance, forgiveness, and overcoming life's obstacles every day - G-d, also knowing the procrastinate nature of humanity, has built into the calendar specific times in which we are obligated to deal with those shortcomings. Otherwise we might just continue to sweep them under the rug. For most of us, the last thing we want to do is go to someone we may have hurt in the last year to seek forgiveness. Or confront a person for the hurt they have caused us. But by doing so, and allowing forgiveness to take place, we remove more of those spiritual stumbling blocks. We are able to break free of the weight of guilt, shame, anger, and inadequacy.
The Days of Awe are awesome days because they are what you make of them. My deepest prayer is that they would be for you a time of blessing and restoration.
G'mar Chatimah Tovah - May you be sealed for a wonderful New Year!
Sheesh, Joshua. Such a thoroughly Jewish blog entry. If you keep writing essays like this, I'm going to have to add you to the staff of my own blog (http://yb4jesus.wordpress.com, aka Messiah: Anonymous).
Don't think I'm kidding around about that--this essay is spot on.
What is surprising to me about it is, I'd thought you believed sin expiation came from belief in Jesus rather than repentance or prayer. Here you've written on repentance and prayer and not even mentioned Jesus. I hope you're directing your parents to this particular blog entry. It's something to be proud of.
Anonymous,
Not sure what is so remarkable. Of course we believe that expiation from sin only comes through prayer and teshuva.
However, I also believe that there is still a mysterious mediation in an through Mashiach.
But the primary work is ours. We must do our part, so that G-d can do G-d's part.
yb4jesus
We are very proud of Josh & Monique, they are gifts.
Rabbi Paul never left being a jew dispite bad press given by church stuff through history. to the point of of both of you when he said that every messianic beliver should be a letter with a life worhty to be read by the entire world(not just the known world), that may be the most Jewish thing Reb Paul ever said.
Joshua,
What I'd found remarkable was your statement of Jewish faith. Unfortunately, you've now reverted to throwing Jesus back into the mix, and thereby violated the First Commandment (which forbids putting any intermediary before G-d). But that comment aside, this was a terrific entry.
Anonymous,
This is where we disagree, as I do not agree this is a violation of the first commandment.
But thanks.