Yom Kippur message from Cantor Ben Moshe

We are about to enter Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar.  Yom Kippur is called by the Torah Shabbat Shabbaton-a Sabbath of Sabbaths.  Let us remember that Shabbat is a time of joy.  In ancient times, the afternoon of Yom Kippur was a celebration, and was considered a good time for matchmaking, as the people felt assured of God’s forgiveness.  Similarly, the s’udah mafseket, the meal before Yom Kippur, should be a festive holiday dinner.  Yom Kippur is a serious day, but not a sad one.

I’d like to remind everyone that if you have a medical condition that would make you sick if you fast, please don’t fast.  We are commanded by the Torah to live by themitzvot, not to die by them.  If you are pregnant or nursing, diabetic or hypoglycemic, or if you need to take medicine with food, please eat.

G’mar hatimah tovah-may we all be sealed in the Book of Life.

Cantor Ben-Moshe