Wednesday, September 15, 2010

To Atone or Not to Atone, That Is the Question

[Ron Jeremy doesn't have an answer to my question. Do you?]

This week, falling between the Jewish high holy days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, presents a new question for me: should I drop going to all Jewish services altogether?

I attended Rosh Hashanah services at my local Chabad house. I enjoyed the services. I found them relaxing, and I liked the songs, the singing, and the structure of liturgical events.

However, I found the prayers themselves to be bland. Their words never appeared more irrelevant and uninspiring to me. I also felt detached from the service and from the community. This was not a bad feeling, really, but as I have reflected on it I have come to question whether I'm up to observing Yom Kippur at all.

After all, I don't have to fast. I don't have to spend all day at services. Do I want to do these things? I'm not sure.

I'm not sure.

Thus, I have a question to answer and a decision to make: whether to do Yom Kippur or drop it.

Any advice or thoughts?

3 comments:

  1. There is an alternative...Secular Humanistic Judaism. Why not seek out one of our congregations. No hypocrisy, no meaningless words. Just non-theistic, human-based reflection, song and celebration. I like your blog. Check mine out if you want: www.TheAtheistRabbi.blogspot.com. Shana Tova!

    ReplyDelete
  2. That's an interesting suggestion. I'll investigate.

    Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Rambam12:58 PM

    Neat blog above..

    For me, the part of the holidays I enjoyed was the food. Festive meals are really my only religious connection now.

    Sitting in synagogue and fasting, no thanks.

    ReplyDelete

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