Yom Kipppur Reflection

2134 Words5 Pages

Lupe Remigio
Dr. Vincent Biondo
Philosophy 158
9 April 2014
Yom Kippur
Today the Jewish calendar is comprised of numerous weekly, monthly, and yearly celebrations that work to recall Jewish history all the while allowing Jews to renew, on an ongoing basis, a covenant relationship with their God Yahweh. The beginning of the year starts with Rosh Hashanah followed by 9 days of celebration and contemplation of God’s righteousness and restoration of the individual and the community. These 10 days of joyous as well as serious rituals and prayers close with Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Revered today as the holiest day of the year, Yom Kippur revolves around the importance of confession (Vidui) and repentance (Tshuvah) for the self-development and spiritual renewal of the individual Jew and Jewish community for a revival of sanctification before a righteous and holy God.
The Jewish High Holy Days or Days of Awe constitute of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, and Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement in which confession of sins initiates the path to repentance, Tshuvah, and the regeneration of the soul in a new relationship with God. Ordained in the Pentateuch in the book of Leviticus the Lord established the following to be the procedure for this holy day:
This shall be a statute forever for you: In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether a native of your own country or a stranger who dwells among you. For on that day the priest shall make atonement for you, to cleanse you, that you may be clean from all your sins before the LORD. It is a sabbath of solemn rest for you, and you shall afflict your souls. It is a statute forever.”
Out of the 365 days of the year o...

... middle of paper ...

...nt on this self-development and spiritual renewal by writing: “It is Aaron’s letting go of sin, not God’s judgment of sin, that sets Aaron free and returns him and his people to joyful participation in a covenantal relationship—which is to say, a two-way relationship—with God.” [NEED TRANSITION]
Yom Kippur was established in the book of Leviticus as a celebration of the new year. The power of this Jewish celebration lies not in judgment, but rather in God’s all forgiving and unconditional love, as well as in His desire to remain in a covenant relationship with His people. In this matter, it makes perfect sense for Yom Kippur to be the holiest day of the Jewish calendar for its ability to provide self-development and renewal for the Jewish people upon the public confession of sin and the act of repentance in acknowledgment of man’s wretchedness and God’s holiness.

More about Yom Kipppur Reflection

Open Document