Thoughts on Yom Kippur 2023 - by Dr. Efrat Sopher*

The Jewish calendar begins with Rosh Hashana (First of Tishrei), when God is said to inscribe the fate of every person in the year ahead and it is on Yom Kippur nine days later when everyone’s verdict is ‘sealed’ after judgement. Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is the holiest day in the Jewish calendar-when the Jewish people worldwide refrain from eating, drinking, and engaging in other physical pleasures. As we prepare to mark Yom Kippur-I would like to share a reflection from Sephardi philosophy on atonement according to my friend and Senior Rabbi of the Sephardi Community and CCJ President Rabbi Joseph Dweck.

Atonement, broken down means becoming ‘at one’ after doing Teshuva -returning to ourselves- leading up to Rosh Hashana. Rather than the classic image of a grandiose and dramatic day of our Judgement by the Almighty sitting in judgement of our sins and virtues, we like to think of this day as our opportunity to perform the most genuine exercise of Vidduy- acknowledgement -of where we have transgressed or missed the mark on our journeys to become better versions of ourselves. 

Moses Ben Maimon, also known as Maimonides or by his acronym Rambam who was born in Cordoba, Spain in 1138 is the father of Sephardi thought and philosophy.  His outlook was rooted in Jewish law while being intensely integrated into the society in which he lived.  For instance, he practiced as a physician and scientist while being a prominent rabbinic scholar. Maimonides discusses the core role of Vidduy in Yom Kippur as to atone and to be made whole again. His perspective on atonement involves three elements: Rectification where we acknowledge the damage caused by our missing the mark (either to ourselves, God, or others), absolving damaged relationships which can also be interpreted as complete forgiveness and pardoning or ownership of missing the mark.  This deeply meaningful perception of relationships and forgiveness is indeed a model for individuals, communities, and nation-states.

Maimonides’ perspective of atonement and Vidduy reaches the crux of every truly genuine relationship either between us and God or us and others. The fact that God wants us to be honest and real with Him underscores His support of our being open and vulnerable and have faith that He will help and support us through the process of healing and trying again to take aim to succeed and not miss the mark. This is the triumph once again of faith over fear.

We keep the faith that God will support us and not invalidate us if we acknowledge where we did not hit our targets or reach our precise goal posts.

This image gives a novel prism through which to see Yom Kippur and the part it plays in our personal development and affects our relationships with friends, family, and God Himself.  However, we must genuinely verbalise our vulnerabilities- as Rabbi Dweck explains, God is a gentleman-He does not go where He is not invited.

Wishing the CCJ and all its readers a meaningfully sweet new year ahead and a myriad of genuine supported relationships throughout the globe.

* Dr. Efrat Sopher a member of the Executive Committee of the World Jewish Congress, Co-Chair of the University of Haifa UK, and a Governor of the University of Haifa. She was the first female Vice President of the Board of the S&P Sephardi Community -- the United Kingdom’s oldest Jewish community.