Several years ago Viviana had an ex-boyfriend who periodically would change his Facebook status to read "requiring forgiveness." Remembering the young man, I can well understand why he felt the need to send this message to his friends. Nevertheless, it is a status that is useful for all of us in regards to our friends, family, community and the Divine. It is especially apropos to the Jewish community during the ten days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. These days celebrate the possibility of transformation, not only through forgiveness but even more importantly through repentance, as we look at our past and prepare ourselves to effect real change for the future. The Jewish tradition teaches that God is always in wait for repentance, always ready to forgive and to effect atonement.
The High Holidays are a time of reconciliation, as we realize that all are created in the image of the Divine. These days of awe demand that we open our eyes to our past mistakes and make real changes in the trajectory of our lives. They ask that we learn from the past to create a better future. They are a unique chance, if we are willing to take it, to effect repair (tikkun) of our broken relationships, as we reach out to the people we have hurt both in apology, and also with a commitment that we will do our best not to repeat the injury in the future.
In the Mishna it teaches that in order to achieve atonement with God, we must first achieve at-one-ment with our fellows -- we must repair our families, community and indeed world. When we do this, even in a small way, when we see the divine image in everything and everyone, then we return to a sense of wholeness (shalaym) and unity which is the true root of peace (shalom). When we realize (in every sense of the word) the unity of the world and everything within it -- with all its diversity -- then, as the Mishnah teaches, through our tikkun not only are we at one with the world, we are also at one with the Divine.
While all our status is "requiring forgiveness," it should also be "ready to forgive." Ready to be at-one.
The High Holidays are a time of reconciliation, as we realize that all are created in the image of the Divine. These days of awe demand that we open our eyes to our past mistakes and make real changes in the trajectory of our lives. They ask that we learn from the past to create a better future. They are a unique chance, if we are willing to take it, to effect repair (tikkun) of our broken relationships, as we reach out to the people we have hurt both in apology, and also with a commitment that we will do our best not to repeat the injury in the future.
In the Mishna it teaches that in order to achieve atonement with God, we must first achieve at-one-ment with our fellows -- we must repair our families, community and indeed world. When we do this, even in a small way, when we see the divine image in everything and everyone, then we return to a sense of wholeness (shalaym) and unity which is the true root of peace (shalom). When we realize (in every sense of the word) the unity of the world and everything within it -- with all its diversity -- then, as the Mishnah teaches, through our tikkun not only are we at one with the world, we are also at one with the Divine.
While all our status is "requiring forgiveness," it should also be "ready to forgive." Ready to be at-one.
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