Yom Kippur Eve: A goy’s first atonement
Tomorrow is Yom Kippur. In the United States, it doesn’t mean much of anything to most people. As a kid I remember one teacher taking time to help her students understand what the day meant. After 15 minutes of explanations and a classroom full of blank stares, the teacher ended with “It’s a Jewish thing”. That seemed to satisfy most of us.
But apparently, it’s a day of atonement. It’s a day of suffering to cleanse yourself of “sins” (or whatever evil word you’d like to associate it with). There’s no eating. No drinking. No driving cars. No wearing of leather. No sex. No shower. The ultra religious don’t even tear their toilet paper when they use the bathroom on this day. They “pre-tear” sheets the day before. The streets will be empty (save emergency vehicles) and children use the day to ride their bikes on the city streets freely without fear of vehicles. Interesting, eh?
Bottom line is that tomorrow I’ll fast for the first time in my life. My reasoning is simple:
When in Rome….
I would never do it any other time or in any other place (I’m not Jewish, for god’s sake) but I’m curious to know what it feels like not to drink water or eat food all day (masochist anyone?). And maybe a small part of me will feel bad stuffing food into my face while all of Israel is starving.
Maybe I should live blog the day tomorrow? Hourly whining updates? No. I’ll leave it to the imagination and end this post with another brilliant e-card from someecards.com:
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Comments
That’s pretty cool, Joyce! I had no idea you were so religiously diverse. 
And if the Jews are good for one thing, it’s Holidays!!
Very cool. My dad was a big proponent of fasting for health benefits when we were growing up, so I’ve done it from time to time since I was a teenager. I started observing the Catholic fasting for Lent (40 days, fast during the day, simple evening meal like soup and bread, no “festive” foods or alcohol) a few years ago and though I regularly fall off the wagon, I have experienced it’s spiritual benefits. Fasting in solidarity with the poor and hungry (who fast every day) definitely increases your capacity for empathy and gratitude.
Did I ever mention that my best friend was Jewish and I went to Hebrew school when I was a kid? I even memorized a Hebrew prayer: Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech ha’olam oseh ma’aseh vereshit. 
Val, I had no idea you’ve fasted before (and 40 days! That’s sorta like Ramadan, right?) As for the prayer, all I can translate is “You… God…the world…do…what”. I think you know more Hebrew than I do!
I’ll let you know how my first fasting experience goes.
I’m very interested in how the day of fasting will go! I dont have any cool stories of my own to share with you regarding the holidays or fascinations with religion, unfortunately. Being thumped on the head with catholicism my whole life sort of made me bitter towards the whole concept. although i think the stories are neat. now i celebrate my inner sprituality! so from that perspective, enjoy the day for you! what a great cultural experience to have! good luck my friend.
[...] first I was confused about the time it started when I wrote my previous post about Yom Kippur. I guess I assumed it would start at midnight and end at midnight. You know, a [...]
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Awesome, Jamison. You have a happy Yom Kippur. Watcha gonna eat once the holiday is over??
I remember being fascinated with Jewish holidays when I was in grade school. I went to the library to read up on them one day. I remember making my dad plant a tree with me for Tu Bishvat. Don’t know if we actually did it on that day, but it’s the thought that counts, right.
Yes, I was a strange kid.
I think the fascination stemmed from our grade school teachers parading the one and a half jewish kids we had up to the front of the room to talk about their holidays.
Well, it worked. I learned.
Hope all is well!