Yom Kippur Reflection... Reflection
Today is Yom Kippur. I am sitting at home, fasting, and it hit me that last year I wrote a Yom Kippur reflection. I went back to that just now and decided to post it again; everything I said back then is still relevant today... and it's amazing to think it's been a year already. From 10/1/2006:
Since Yom Kippur is today, it makes one reflect on life and start considering some interesting and important ideas.
The Rabbinical Council in Israel has a very difficult job of sitting around and finding ways to not only question the Torah and Talmud but to also find ways to interpret its meaning into modern times.
Unlike the Constitution, which has been amended to fit the times and needs of the country, the Torah and Talmud must remain a constant if it is going to serve as the basis for comparison.
With all the information in science, technology, philosophy and just life in general, we must always return to that ancient Tome and question it's meanings, lessons and points. That being said, we must also apply it's rules and traditions to emerging thoughts, ideas and technologies.
For example, there was no electricty during the time of Abraham, however, the tradition of No Work on the Sabbath must be adhered to if it is to be kept as a tradition. That being said, the Rabbinical Council deemed (atleast for Orthodox Jews) that activating and using any electrical device was considered Work. And thus, the Tradition's intent was updated with the times.
However, I still think the Rabbinical Council is a bit behind when it comes to the Internet, let alone livejournal. That being said, i'm going to take advantage of this powerful communications tool in order to fulfil a tradition that I have decided to adhere to on a more powerful basis.
This post, albeight a long one, is actually about forgiveness. Everything before this was just information and thought/reflection. As it is Yom Kippur and as I have changed as a person over the years, I find myself needing to ask forgiveness from those who are in my life but do not find the time, nor the phone numbers, to get in touch with everyone individually.
That being said, here we go... also bare in mind this is only for people who actually know me and have known me for longer than it takes to click "Add to Friends" so if that doesn't include you, sorry, but ignore this (probably should have put this at the top.):
Anyway, so, let's be honest, none of us are perfect. Far from it, i'm sure that all of us have something or do something that someone else we know has either not liked or taken offense to. That being said, I know for a fact that I have done things in the past that have been wrong and flat out bad. Be it backtalking, stealing, cursing, physically or emotionally harming or any other evil act... i'm sure i've done it to someone at sometime in my life, let alone in the past year.
Am I proud of that? No. Do I deny it happened? No. And i'm not going to fool myself into thinking im some sort of Divine being free from sin. That being said, I present myself to you, the people who know me and whose lives have been forever changed (be it on a large or small scale, for good or bad) by my interaction with it, and ask for your forgiveness.
Bare in mind that whether or not I deserve that forgiveness is entirely up to you. It is a matter of serious consideration, given how I have treated you and how you feel about it. Knowing that my actions will serve as lessons for the future do not change what I have done nor how it has effected you. All you can do is understand that the build up weighs heavily on my soul is powerful enough to warrent a forcefel reflection and review.
So that's it, respond to this or not, it's up to you. Laugh about it, talk to your friends about how silly it is that I went this route, but whatever. I stand by my feelings and by what I said. If you can find me worthy of that forgiveness, I ask that you give it to me.
I have a hard time with religion and spirituality, but one cannot argue with some basic facts and tennents about being a good person.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and think about it. I appreciate it from all of you.
Gmar Chatimah Tovah, I hope that if there is a God, he looks favorably upon all of you, and deems your souls worthy to be written in the Great Book.
Thank you,
Ophir Klainman
If anyone wants to get in touch with me you can e-mail me, leave me a message here, or call me.
email: sonpanda@gmail.com
livejournal: You should figure this out.
Since Yom Kippur is today, it makes one reflect on life and start considering some interesting and important ideas.
The Rabbinical Council in Israel has a very difficult job of sitting around and finding ways to not only question the Torah and Talmud but to also find ways to interpret its meaning into modern times.
Unlike the Constitution, which has been amended to fit the times and needs of the country, the Torah and Talmud must remain a constant if it is going to serve as the basis for comparison.
With all the information in science, technology, philosophy and just life in general, we must always return to that ancient Tome and question it's meanings, lessons and points. That being said, we must also apply it's rules and traditions to emerging thoughts, ideas and technologies.
For example, there was no electricty during the time of Abraham, however, the tradition of No Work on the Sabbath must be adhered to if it is to be kept as a tradition. That being said, the Rabbinical Council deemed (atleast for Orthodox Jews) that activating and using any electrical device was considered Work. And thus, the Tradition's intent was updated with the times.
However, I still think the Rabbinical Council is a bit behind when it comes to the Internet, let alone livejournal. That being said, i'm going to take advantage of this powerful communications tool in order to fulfil a tradition that I have decided to adhere to on a more powerful basis.
This post, albeight a long one, is actually about forgiveness. Everything before this was just information and thought/reflection. As it is Yom Kippur and as I have changed as a person over the years, I find myself needing to ask forgiveness from those who are in my life but do not find the time, nor the phone numbers, to get in touch with everyone individually.
That being said, here we go... also bare in mind this is only for people who actually know me and have known me for longer than it takes to click "Add to Friends" so if that doesn't include you, sorry, but ignore this (probably should have put this at the top.):
Anyway, so, let's be honest, none of us are perfect. Far from it, i'm sure that all of us have something or do something that someone else we know has either not liked or taken offense to. That being said, I know for a fact that I have done things in the past that have been wrong and flat out bad. Be it backtalking, stealing, cursing, physically or emotionally harming or any other evil act... i'm sure i've done it to someone at sometime in my life, let alone in the past year.
Am I proud of that? No. Do I deny it happened? No. And i'm not going to fool myself into thinking im some sort of Divine being free from sin. That being said, I present myself to you, the people who know me and whose lives have been forever changed (be it on a large or small scale, for good or bad) by my interaction with it, and ask for your forgiveness.
Bare in mind that whether or not I deserve that forgiveness is entirely up to you. It is a matter of serious consideration, given how I have treated you and how you feel about it. Knowing that my actions will serve as lessons for the future do not change what I have done nor how it has effected you. All you can do is understand that the build up weighs heavily on my soul is powerful enough to warrent a forcefel reflection and review.
So that's it, respond to this or not, it's up to you. Laugh about it, talk to your friends about how silly it is that I went this route, but whatever. I stand by my feelings and by what I said. If you can find me worthy of that forgiveness, I ask that you give it to me.
I have a hard time with religion and spirituality, but one cannot argue with some basic facts and tennents about being a good person.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and think about it. I appreciate it from all of you.
Gmar Chatimah Tovah, I hope that if there is a God, he looks favorably upon all of you, and deems your souls worthy to be written in the Great Book.
Thank you,
Ophir Klainman
If anyone wants to get in touch with me you can e-mail me, leave me a message here, or call me.
email: sonpanda@gmail.com
livejournal: You should figure this out.