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Yom
Kippur In Israel
In the days before Yom Kippur, thousands of Torah observant citizens in Israel rush to finish the ritual of kapparot, where human sins are symbolically transferred to a fowl, generally a chicken. It's a custom that does not appear anywhere in the Talmud, but whose origin seems to come courtesy of several 9th century rabbis. In a parking lot near Jerusalem's Machane Yehuda market, dozens of live chickens are whirled above the heads of men, women and children while a pronouncement is made declaring: "This is my substitute, my vicarious offering, my atonement. This chicken will meet its fate while I will proceed to a good, long life of peace." The chickens are then donated to the needy or redeemed with money that goes to the poverty stricken in Israel. Meantime, members of the Anonymous Animal Rights Group protest the practice of kapparot as cruelty to animals. Meanwhile, hundreds of curious secular Jews living in Israel take part in pre-dawn Selichot tours, where they look in on dozens of congregations where the faithful are immersed in penitential prayers chanted to ancient melodies. In the streets later in the day, men hurry along with towels to the nearest mikveh (ritual bath). Many in Israel have already started building their sukkot (booths) in readiness for Sukkot, the one-week festival that starts the week after Yom Kippur. The structures of Sukkot of all kinds have sprung up on balconies, street corners and in front of cafes. The final decorations and the schach covering will be added right after the conclusion of Yom Kippur. The busiest kiosks on the streets are those selling shoes made from fabric or plastic - to comply with the prohibition against wearing leather on Yom Kippur. The strains of chazanut waft out of many windows, as many Israel radio and TV stations broadcast operatic renditions of the well-known Yom Kippur prayers in a variety of styles. Almost every radio and TV channel also features an Israel physician prescribing pre-fast measures to stave off headaches and ensure an easy fast, and advice on the best type of food with which to break the fast. Many of the rabbis providing commentary on Yom Kippur in the Israel media emphasize the festive nature of the day, not only the obvious solemnity. Be happy, we're told, that God grants us this grand opportunity to get a new lease on life, the possibility of teshuva (return) shows that Judaism is optimistic and forward-looking and allows for the reformulation of both our interpersonal relationships and our relationship with God. Singing and dancing are the de rigueur ways in which many congregations in Israel, especially those at yeshivot, end the Yom Kippur day, expressing joy at the soul having been uplifted. Non-observant Israelis are also getting ready for Yom Kippur. As the one day in the year when governmental TV and radio shuts down (although cable TV still operates bringing in hundreds of channels), they're looking for entertainment. A woman in a halter top and shorts stops at my local newspaper stand to buy three books of crossword puzzles. Video stores are doing brisk business, and bicycle shops are working overtime. There are virtually no motor vehicles on the streets of Israel on Yom Kippur, so it's become a traditional time for mass outings on bikes, new and old. Kids and adults enjoy the one-time freedom of movement for two-wheeled transportation. There's also the obligatory rehash of stories from the 1973 Yom Kippur War in the press. Every year, commentators review the intelligence failures and questionable political decisions that brought Israel to the brink. "The War That Never Ends," blares the headline of the Magazine section of Haaretz, in a lead-in to an article about a Yom Kippur War vet suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder who finally committed himself to a psychiatric ward after more than 30 years of agony. This year, in the wake of intense public criticism of the Olmert administration from many quarters, there are even more calls for a “cheshbon nefesh”—soul-searching accountability—from our leaders. As
the air raid siren sounds in Israel marking the start of the
Day of Reckoning, and the reports of the Iran and Syria threat
are quieted for at least 25 hours, you may be sure that our
prayers will include a plea for a better year than the one before
it.
Jerusalem Diaries II: What's Really Happening in Israel (Xulon Press) by Judy Lash Balint is now available at your favorite bookstore or from www. amazon.com and www.barnesandnoble.com The
above article was written and submitted to the Israel News Agency
before the Yom Kippur holiday. Related
Websites:
The Israel News Agency
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