Can two goats and three High Holiday Torah Portions unlock atonement’s mechanics? In this instance, a Three-of-a-Kind meeting a Two Goat Lottery sheds light. Some of the Hebrew Bible’s most troubling of tales unlocks an atonement tool. Atonement The Hebrew Bible’s focus on truth, justice and righteousness fails to completely address Atonement. Atonement is arguablyContinue reading “Hitting the Goat Lottery? Yom Kippur’s Torah Portion”
Category Archives: yom kippur
True Religion? Tetzaveh
“And Aaron shall make atonement on its horns once per year; he shall make atonement on it with the blood of the sin offering of atonement once per year through your generations. It is holy of holies to the Lord.” Exodus 30:10 Atonement is a central aspect to many religions. Alexander Pope’s “to err isContinue reading “True Religion? Tetzaveh”
A Mensch’s Day Off?
Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, offers the universal message of humility. On a day meant for the garden variety sinner, the day of reflection perhaps is strikingly different for the mensch. Who is a Mensch? According to The New Joys of Yiddish, a mensch is a human being; an upright, honorable, decent person; orContinue reading “A Mensch’s Day Off?”
The Book of Death
One’s inscription in the Book of Life on Yom Kippur in reality is a cheat. The odds of death directly touching someone’s life in any given year is really not that great. After all, one’s demise is truly a once in a lifetime event. This year, however, personally there is no cheat. Rather, it isContinue reading “The Book of Death”
Can You Be Inscribed in The Book of Change?
for many years, our family’s yom kippur, tradition to determine whether one’s fate concerning being inscribed in the book of life for another year was simple. we jaywalked across the busiest and dangerous street to get to synagogue. the successful crossing- with an occasional dodge of an oncoming speeder- was enough to cement that thereContinue reading “Can You Be Inscribed in The Book of Change?”
“Toxic Entitlement” Old Testament Style
the book of jonah is read on yom kippur, the day of atonement, in the afternoon service. the story is of irony. jonah, the prophet’s “toxic” mentality serves as a wrecking ball for morality. essentially, jonah dislikes his job as a prophet. upon receiving an assignment to go to niniveh and warn them of theContinue reading ““Toxic Entitlement” Old Testament Style”
Of Anthony Bourdain, Star Trek & God
one of my brother’s friends passed away. they were having a celebration of life party at the restaurant down the block. the friend’s step mother insisted i come. she said, the actress from star trek would be there. she was not more specific. who could it be? nichelle nichols, uhuru from the original series? iContinue reading “Of Anthony Bourdain, Star Trek & God”
Was The Final Holiday Sacrifice The Greatest? A Ten Commandments’ Tale
the high holidays are full of tales of child sacrifice and loss. rosh hashonah starts with abraham sending his son ishmael to the desert with only bread and water. abraham is then tasked by god to sacrifice his son isaac. on yom kippur, there is the story of the high priest aaron who is grievedContinue reading “Was The Final Holiday Sacrifice The Greatest? A Ten Commandments’ Tale”
Forgiveness On Hold: A Ten Commandments’ Tale
in the oscar winning film, forrest gump, the man denied his destiny of dying on the battlefield confronts a great storm. angry at the world. after losing his legs on the battlefield, he then took to lose his soul in a bottle of alcohol. captain dan climbs to the top of the mast and goesContinue reading “Forgiveness On Hold: A Ten Commandments’ Tale”
Your Personal Diversity Coach, Part I: A Ten Commandments’ Tale
a drug problem? go to rehab; a drinking problem? go to alcoholics anonymous; a racial offense or micro aggression problem? go to a diversity coach? humanity has always required an “erasure” mechanism. individuals falling off of the contemporary “straight and narrow” path must have a means of getting back on it; a way to cleanseContinue reading “Your Personal Diversity Coach, Part I: A Ten Commandments’ Tale”
The Ten Commandments Project 