Yom Kippur

As I was driving home from the gym today, I passed a synagog & wondered why the parking lot was so full.  I thought there was no way that it could be that crowded just because the preschool enrollment sign that was blowing on the side of the building.  I seemed to have forgotten why I was driving by at that time of the day; I have the day off because of Yom Kippur.  Yeah, I had a blond moment.  October is a good month when you attend school at a Jewish institution.  I have to attend class for only half the month.

So, what exactly is Yom Kippur?  It's the Jewish Day of Atonement, & is the most solemn & important of the Jewish holidays.  The Jewish fast for 25 hours & spend most of their day at the synagog.  It's the 10th & final day of the Ten Days of Repentance which begins with Rash Hashanah.  At the beginning of this 10 days, they believe that God writes their fates in a book which will be sealed on Yom Kippur.  During this time they seek repentance & try to amend their ways before their yearly fate is sealed.  

I sure am glad I don't have that type of pressure on me, that I can always repent when I need to.  I'm grateful for my religion & beliefs.