We’ve been through a lot together this year.
The pages of The Jewish Link and our online platform have captured our community’s triumphs and, at times, some of its most troubling challenges.
Be it communal responses to a person in need of a kidney transplant, measures to secure our community during anti-Semitic threats or physical attacks, the sting of bigotry’s rhetoric or the overwhelming collective reaction to help fellow Jews facing natural disasters, we have recorded it all as honestly as possible.
Our tradition teaches that during these Yomim Noraim, observing the birthday of the world, we pray to Hashem to intervene on behalf of humanity. As we approach Yom Kippur, the davening intensifies as we ask for forgiveness for the errors we have made—the ones we are aware of and, perhaps more importantly, the ones we are unaware of. We also ask your forgiveness if you are among those we have wronged.
Certainly we need to ask ourselves what we are doing to be part of the teshuva process. Is it enough to pray for those who need help? Are we stepping up personally to help the downtrodden, to provide hope and help for families in need, to encourage our elected officials to act on behalf of world Jewry and the security of Israel?
We ask Hashem for our teshuva to be accepted. But we must also show Hashem that we are willing to go the extra mile for others and to be sensitive, in the coming year, to the needs of others. You will often read in our paper how our children often lead us in these endeavors, and that is a perspective of our community of which we are very proud.
So let us go that extra mile. If you have not already, please get involved in a cause you believe in. Your neighbors may need your help; sometimes they need a meal delivered, or food bought or a wheelchair or clothing delivered. Your community needs your help. Indeed, Israel and the world needs your help.
As we journey throughout Yom Kippur, from Kol Nidrei to Ne’ila, and the names of the Book of Life are sealed for another year, may we and our families not only be part of the Book, but may we enrich the lives of others so named as well.
The Jewish Link family wants to wish you a meaningful Yom Kippur.
G’mar tov.
