Robert J. Avrech: Emmy Award winning screenwriter. Movie fanatic. Helplessly and hopelessly in love with my wife since age nine.
…In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls, and you shall not do any work … For on that day he shall provide atonement for you to cleanse you from all your sins before the L-RD.
—Leviticus 16:29-30
…In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls, and you shall not do any work … For on that day he shall provide atonement for you to cleanse you from all your sins before the L-RD.
—Leviticus 16:29-30
Tonight begins Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. We will fast for 25 hours. Jews, all over the world, attend day-long prayer services, composed of spiritual and emotional prayers, poetry and songs.
Karen and I pray that Hashem will inscribe all our friends and relatives in the Book of Life.
…In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls, and you shall not do any work … For on that day he shall provide atonement for you to cleanse you from all your sins before the L-RD.
—Leviticus 16:29-30
Raised in a traditional kosher home, Kirk Douglas (1916 – ) b. Issur Danielovitch, recalls his impoverished childhood, yet warmly remembers preparations for Shabbat: his beloved mother Bryna cooking traditional Jewish food, baking challah, Shabbat bread, and kindling the Shabbat candles.
Nevertheless, like so many Jews of his generation, Douglas was deeply conflicted about Judaism.
More than anything young Issur yearned to be a real American, and, like so many Jews of his generation, that meant rejecting Torah Judaism in favor of an all-consuming secular humanity. In fact, when Douglas first came to Hollywood he claimed to be half-Jewish. But as he matured as an actor and gained wisdom as a man Kirk Douglas reevaluated his relationship with Judaism.
In his compulsively readable memoir, The Ragman’s Son, Douglas reveals his sense of awe during Yom Kippur.
[Read more…] about Yom Kippur with Issur Danielovitch AKA Kirk Douglas
…In the seventh month, on the first of the month, there shall be a sabbath for you, a remembrance with shofar blasts, a holy convocation.
—Leviticus 16:24
Tonight begins Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year of 5772, a time of prayer, introspection, repentance, and the ushering in of the Ten Days of Awe that culminates with Yom Kippur.
You might be interested to know that making new year’s resolutions finds its source in Jewish tradition where during this time of year we recognize our sins and shortcomings, ask forgiveness from man and G-d, and resolve to improve our behavior.
In observance of this holiday, Seraphic Secret will be off-line until Monday.
Here’s a lovely and lively Rosh Hashanah music video based on Shakira’s “Waka Waka” by The Ein Prat Fountainheads from the Ein Prat Academy, Israel.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlcxEDy-lr0&feature=share[/youtube]
Karen and I wish all our friends and relatives a Shanah Tova U’mtukah, a good and sweet New Year.