TELL Magazine: October - November 2019

DAY 9.
“We are responsible for each other”
is the focus of this day. The viduy
prayer of this season contains a
long list of transgressions that
are written in the plural form –
ashamnu, bagadnu, galzalnu…”we
are guilty, we have betrayed, we
have overeaten…” etc. Why is the
plural used? So as to remind us
that we do not live in a vacuum.
We are part of a society in which
we influence one another. A
deep principle of Judaism is the
recognition that we are responsible
for each other – arevim zeh la zeh.
Today contemplate what this mean
for you - How are you going to
help others this year? How are
others going to help you this year?
DAY 10
The Zohar “Book of Enlightenmet”
states that on Yom Kippur our
consciousness expands to the level
of angels. The practice of turning
our focus from the physical senses
to sensing the spiritual, leads us
to a deeper sense of the ziv hashechinah,
the “radiance of the
Divine Presence”. Rather than
physical food we are nourished
by divine light. It is said that the
angelic cherubim and seraphim sing
with us as we pray. Whether there
are angels or not, can you feel the
lightness of being on this day? Can
you get a sense of your inner light?
And then Yom Kippur is over, what
is the first thing you do? Yes, eat, but
then we pray the evening prayers
in which we ask forgiveness for our
transgressions! But wait a minute,
we just went through a period of a
month; 10 days in which the focus
was on atonement and preparing
ourselves for a year of goodness and
improvement? Yes we did! However
the sages of old knew that within
a short time, we would “miss the
mark” once again, and the process
of teshuvah would begin once again.
Our sages left us a message within the
text of the siddur (prayer book), they
said, yes we know you will try your
best, but you will more than likely
transgress within a short time of Yom
Kippur’s end. We have the psychospiritual
technology to help you on
your path of wellbeing. We have At-
Onement processes each morning
and night, at the end of each week
and at the end of each month,
helping you to be more aware of your
essence and how to connect with
goodness. And hopefully the process
of teshuvah will not be circular, but
an ever-ascending spiral symbolising
the higer level of wellbeing at which
you arrive each year.
Shana Tova, and may
you find a deeper level
of wellness and love
within this ancient,
wise and ever-evolving
tradition.
ITRANSFORMATIVE LEARNING
Yom Kippur Eve - Music, Meditation & Prayer
A unique opportunity to raise your spirits through music, prayer and chant, with musician
Amir Paiss (co-founder of Temple of Song and Sheva Band in Israel), and Rabbi Dr. Orna
Triguboff, Emanuel Lieberfreund and Aviva Pinkus. This reflective circle of prayer and music
promises to be a heart-opening experience to be remembered.
7:45pm-9:45pm, 8 October in Neuweg
All welcome. Bookings essential - early bird $35 before 1 October,
otherwise $45. Children under 15: $10
Because space is limited, Emanuel members are requested to
reserve a free ticket online here if you would like to participate.
Reserve your seat:
events.humanitix.com.au/yomkippur
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