Happy New Year To All Jews on this Board!

This is my own interpretation. Many different explanations and observances could be shared by others, as they observe in their way of understanding.

In following the Jewish Faith and in observance of Yom Kippur, which begins tonight at Sundown, 9-15-02, I just wanted to touch on a point of what this holiday is for Jews and for me, as it applies to my life and my experiences with all I come into contact with.

In Judaism we atone on this High Holiday once a year called Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement). We fast for 26 hours to cleanse ourselves of the negative and past, and we confess to ourselves any and all of our deceits, lies, wrongs, etc. Once we have mentally taken this inventory of our wrong doings for the previous year, we ask those that we may have harmed by those wrong doings for their forgiveness, and make ammends. Hopefully this will wipe the negative slate clean, and prepare us for the coming year of posative prosperity, learning from our mistakes, and trying to be better than the previous year.

So in accordance with my beliefs, I ask any and all of those that may have been negatively affected by anything I may have said or done to forgive me for my wrongs.

Likewise, we are expected to grant forgiveness to those that have harmed us, and as such, I do truly forgive those that have caused me harm. Amen

May all of your futures be happy filled days and nights!

Easy Fast To All

LifeIsGood

-- Modified on 9/15/2002 2:25:05 PM

-- Modified on 9/17/2002 3:44:54 AM

-- Modified on 9/17/2002 7:22:42 AM

One misconception of Yom Kippur is that we ask G-d for forgiveness of all of our sins.  

During prayer services on Yom Kippur we ask G-d to forgive us for the sins we committed against G-d, but for those sins we have committed agains our fellow man, we must ask forgiveness of whomever we wronged -- G-d will not grant forgiveness for those sins.

Happy new year and an easy fast.

-Hoot.

And to all, regardless of your heritage, I wish a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.

Why did you omit the "o"s in your post?

In Judaism, particularly in the orthodox tradition, the name of God is regarded to have great power and should not be misused... indeed, not even written out. This is related to such roundabout references as "I Am Who Am" etc. that you find in biblical translations.

In English this respect is symbolized by omitting the "O" and typing G-d. If you look at many online Jewish sites, especially those of Chabadic, Hasidic and other orthodox traditions, you will note that the spelling is always G-d.

O.

And to you and to all.

For the answer.

I am not Jewish but recall on friday a co-worker telling me she would not be in Monday in observance of the holiday.

And now I come to this board and realize its an even BIGGER
holiday than I had realized.

The third commandment (of the Ten Commandments) says, "thou shalt not take the name of the Lord, thy G_d in vain....".  Traditionally Jewish people, and I suppose many Christians as well, omit the middle letter in deference to this commandment so they are not actually writing the name of G_d.  This is how I learned it back in religious school as a kid.  If I were to write the word on a piece of paper, and at some point destroy or throw that paper away, in effect I would be breaking the commandment.  I cannot imagine how many times I've broken that commandment, by saying his name in vain, in the throes of a BBBJ!  

I hope all the jews, muslims, and Christians, do the best possible,  so there will be peace in this new year.  We Christians, certainly need to do more, a lot more ...

Although I am not Orthodox, I do it out of respect.  In addition to your writings, the name of G-d is not supposed to be written where it can be erased; the name is supposed to be permanent.  On a forum such as this, the message will evenutally be erased.  

-Hoot.

"Atonement" is the correct spelling.

-Hoot.