On Yom Kippur, the possibility of change

Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, begins at sundown this coming Tuesday. 

This Jewish holiday urges us to both seek and give forgiveness for all the sins, transgressions, misdeeds and mistakes we made during the previous year.

But at the core of this millenia-old religious ritual is the foundational movement from polytheism to monotheism. It has been referred to as the transition from fate to faith.

The ancient universe of multiple mythological gods was predicated on the physical struggle of humankind against forces personified by varying deities. And they were either tragically indifferent or more often violent. We were at the mercy and whims of those powerful entities that lived on Olympus, the Parthenon or in Asgard--what ultimately happened to each of us on earth was not for us to decide.

The Israelites of the Torah believed otherwise. Though the phrase in Genesis, “we were created in God’s image” could be paradoxical--the God of Moses and the tribes of Jacob had no image-- it was understood by the Hebrews to mean we were imbued with the god-like quality of the freedom to make choices. However, as we all know, we frequently do not make good ones. That is why God also gave us the ability to forgive.

Acknowledging our wrongs, apologizing, having sincere remorse and truly repenting leads to the real possibility of positive change. Being given a clean slate, a second chance, enhances the potential to cajole ourselves to be better. Thus, also providing the platform to improve our community and make a difference in the world.

In the sweep of the biblical narrative, we see, both individually and collectively, that though God entered into a relationship with us, we rebelled, revolted and disappointed Heaven over and over again. Judaism ponders, at this moment on the liturgical calendar, the question, not why do we believe in God, but why does God believe in us? At the heart of the answer is the meaning of Yom Kippur that matters most: as we engage in self-examination, and seek the path to betterment we ultimately think not about what we want from life, but rather what life wants from us.

Rabbi Jack Zanerhaft is the spiritual leader of Temple Emanu-El of Long Beach.