Thoughts on Yom Kippur 2021

If there is one thing we all take for granted, it is life itself. Then we are reminded how quickly we can go.

Tomorrow night is the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur. Jews around the world will fast for 25 hours and pray that our creator writes us in the book of life for another year.

Between the more than 600,000 Americans who have died from Covid-19 and the 20th anniversary of 9/11 this past weekend, the reminder that life is precious has been more than obvious.

One of the most important prayers is called U’Netaneh Tokef. One of the passages in the prayer is as follows:

On Rosh Hashanah will be inscribed and on Yom Kippur will be sealed how many will pass from the earth and how many will be created; who will live and who will die; who will die at his predestined time and who before his time; who by water and who by fire, who by sword, who by beast, who by famine, who by thirst, who by storm, who by plague, who by strangulation, and who by stoning. Who will rest and who will wander, who will live in harmony and who will be harried, who will enjoy tranquility and who will suffer, who will be impoverished and who will be enriched, who will be degraded and who will be exalted.

Yesterday, death came close to home. To say that I am grieving and shocked is an understatement. A friend passed away. I haven’t seen her since before the pandemic and have only spoken to her once since last Spring. Now I wish I had stayed in touch. We need to tell the ones we love how we feel when they are here, not when they are gone.

Z”L my friend. RIP.

To everyone fasting, have an easy fast and may you be written into the book of life for another year.

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Gone Too Soon

No mortal is untouched by death.

A while back, I wrote about a friend of a friend who committed suicide. I did not know her personally, but her death hurt.

Last night I found out that a childhood friend of mine passed away. I haven’t seen her in twenty years. We’ve been Facebook friends for a few years, but never really made the time to re-connect as adults.

I wish I had reached out to her when I had the chance. She was a year younger than I was and one of my best friends from the time I was in pre-school until my early teens. I cannot imagine what my childhood would have been like without her.

Her death is a reminder that life is precious and we need to make time for the people who are important to us. We also need to tell them that we love them. We never know when we will have to unexpectedly tell them goodbye for the final time.

My regular readers know that I have been battling depression for a few years. Depression keeps its victims from living life to the fullest.

Depression has taken a lot from me. Experiences I’ve never had, friendships I’ve never made. I cannot and will not let it keep me from living. Live is too short, we only get one spin around this planet. We had better make the most of it while we can.

RIP.

Enjoy your weekend.