Shanah Tovah. It is now Yamim Nora'im, the High Holy Days in Judaism.
YAMIM NORA'IM (Heb. יָמִים נוֹרָאִים; "Days of Awe"), a term applied to the period from the first day of *Rosh Ha-Shanah until the *Day of Atonement and more particularly to these two festivals. This period is more commonly referred to as the *Ten Days of Penitence.
One part of the observation of Yom Kipur is something like an "general examine of conscionce" that Catholics undertake as part of the Rite of Reconciliation. The Jewish practice is "Teshuva," something more than just recognition and regret, yet still without the absolution that is the last part of Reconciliation.
To me, absolution is the most awe-instilling and numinous aspect of Catholicism: my mistakes, my sins,all that I have done wrong or failed to do rightly, all not just forgiven but forgotten, erased from existence thanks to my own repentance and the mystery of Christ acting in the person of a priest. I worried at times about people, particularly my father, who didn't have access to this incredible gift.
Then my father shared something with me. At the time, he had metastasized cancer and was fighting what he knew was a losing battle. He told me that he had decided, that year, to really, fully, practice "Teshuva." He made a list of all his regrets, taking time to think through his life and dig down deep into his soul. He wrote all these things down, to make a thorough chesbon hanefesh, "taking the measure of our souls."
The question is, what to do next? A Catholic takes the list to confession and lays it before God (in the person of a priest) and receives absolution. What was my father, a Jew, to do instead?
As my father pondered this question, during Yom Kipor, a large dumpster was placed on the street in front of the house next door, which was being renovated. And on the dumpster was the name of the construction company: "Elohim Construction." My dad reminded me that Elohim means "Lord" and is what an observant Jew says in place of the name of God when he comes across it when reciting scripture. So, my father contemplated this dumpster for a few days. And then he took his list and gave it to God by way of the vehicle clearly provided for that purpose.
The dumpster was still there when I visited him a few weeks later, so I was able to see it myself. During that week it was removed, along with my father's regrets.
I don't worry for my father's salvation anymore. Clearly God has His ways of taking care of all of us.
My father died last year. יהי זכרו לברכה: may his memory be for a blessing.
