Arriving Late, But Right on Time

Looking around a synagogue, one might think that Yom Kippur is a contest of who can cry the hardest, feel the worst about himself or herself, and generally beat himself or herself up as much as possible. It kind of reminds me of that scene in Wayne's World where they meet Alice Cooper, and fall down at his knees and start bowing and saying: "We're not worthy!  We're not worthy!!" But the Truth is -- and yes, it is the "Truth" with a capital "T" -- the Truth is that Yom Kippur has gotten lost.  After 2,000 years of exile, it's meaning and Spirit have been forgotten by most.  Because the Talmud is very, VERY specific, and it tells us that Yom Kippur is one of the happiest days of the year! Yep, that's right!  A super-happy day!!  Crazy...  You never would have known it from visiting a synagogue. Why is Yom Kippur so happy?  It's quite simple, actually.  It is happy, because God is our Father.  It is happy because God is our Friend.  And it is happy because before you even got to Synagogue to hear the Kol Nidrei services -- the profound opening service of Yom Kippur -- you were already forgiven for every mistake you have made over the past year, and God is blowing wind in your sails for the best year of your life to come! Unconditional forgiveness.  Amazing. Because a father doesn't hold a grudge against his child.  He only does what he must to teach his child the right pathway to walk upon.  And HaShem is exactly the same way with us. We just have to know how to use the power of the day of Yom Kippur to get ourselves ready to grab that amazing opportunity, and set up the coming year to be all that it can be. Attached please find a Shu-Shine for Yom Kippur: "Arriving Late, But Right on Time". May we all be blessed to feel HaShem's unconditional love as we enter the synagogue this Yom Kippur, and as we rise to meet the gift of each day of your lives over the year to come. This weeks shu-shine is dedicated to the wonderful bride and groom, Shimon and Devra -- May HaShem bless you with an amazing year of love and joy and ever-inreasing understanding of one another. With Love and a Smile, ~Shu