Yom Kippur Readings: Inspiration, Information and Contemplation

Table of Contents:
Acknowledgments xvii Introduction xix First Reflections 1 Kol Nidre—Our Vows and Promises 15 Sin 27 Forgiveness 63 Hear, O Israel: God, Love and Learning 85 Avinu Malkenu 105 Roots and Themes from the Torah 111 T'shuvah, T’fillah, T’zedakkah (Repentance, Prayer and Acts of Righteousness) 145 Faith and Beliefs 171 Yizkor—In Memoriam 183 Martyrology 203 The Service of the High Priest: In the Temple Times and Today 227 Yom Kippur Customs 241 Jonah and Human Responsibility 267 Closing the Gates 287 Next Year in Jerusalem 303 Sources 313 About the Contributors 325 Credits 332

About the Author :
Rabbi Dov Peretz Elkins is widely recognised for his ability to inspire and inform Jewish audiences as a lecturer, educationalist and author. He has written widely for the Jewish and general press and is the author of thirty-five books for Jewish group leaders. Rabbi Elkins is Rabbi Emeritus of The Jewish Center of Princeton, New Jersey and a former member of the committee on Jewish Law and Standards of the Rabbinical Assembly and the Council for Jewish Education.

Review :
"From Kol Nidre to N'eilah, from wearing a kittel to the Book of Jonah; and, from teachers and texts ranging from Art Green to Leo Tolstoy, from Merle Feld to Marge Piercy, from Arnold Eisen to Albert Einstein, from Heschel to Baeck, and from Midrash to (of course) Anonymous—they’re all there! Elkins gives us the complete Yom Kippur meditative experience. Smuggle it in with you along with (or instead of) your mahzor!" —Rabbi Lawrence Kushner, coauthor of Filling Words with Light: Hasidic and Mystical Reflections on Jewish Prayer and many other books on spirituality “Prepares the heart and mind for prayer. In it are sermons in parables, insights in poetry, wisdom in tales and commentaries in anecdotes.” —Rabbi Harold M. Schulweis, author of Conscience: The Duty to Obey and the Duty to Disobey “If you want to spend Yom Kippur (or the months leading up to it) in the company of some of the best Jewish spiritual writers of our time, this is the book for you. Amidst the beautiful and wise passages collected here, you are sure to find something to open your heart.” —Rabbi Nancy Fuchs-Kreimer, coauthor of Judaism for Two: A Spiritual Guide for Strengthening & Celebrating Your Loving Relationship “Full of wonderful material that will deepen the Yom Kippur experience for rabbis and their communities. An ever-flowing spring of thoughts and prayers to help us approach Yom Kippur with meaning, creativity, soulfulness and blessing.” —Rabbi Naomi Levy, spiritual leader of Nashuva and author of To Begin Again and Talking to God “Like a spring that courses through the desert, there are life-giving waters here. Beneath the surface gleam scattered gems from great teachers, to nourish the spirit during the Days of Awe.” —Rabbi Rachel S. Mikva, editor of Broken Tablets: Restoring the Ten Commandments and Ourselves “Those seeking meaning for living from Judaism will find this High Holy Day anthology of teachers and texts from every walk of Jewish life offers spiritual nourishment for every Jewish home.” —Rabbi Goldie Milgram, author of Meaning & Mitzvah: Daily Practices for Reclaiming Judaism through Prayer, God, Torah, Hebrew, Mitzvot and Peoplehood “Provocative…. Stressing in straightforward language the themes of Yom Kippur, this will be valuable to laymen who want to prepare for that day. The wide variety of impressive sources, ancient and mostly modern, confront us with what should be our serious concerns on that day (and on other days) in the framework of our lives.” —Rabbi Jules Harlow, editor and translator of Mahzor for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur and author of Pray Tell: A Hadassah Guide to Jewish Prayer “Filled with inspirational readings that are profound, and that will challenge and ignite the mind and heart alike…. Will deepen the High Holy Day experience for every reader.” —Rabbi Joseph Telushkin, author of Jewish Literacy and The Book of Jewish Values