Jewish new year provides time for fasting, forgiveness
by Brian Wainstein, Editor-In-Chief

   With Rosh Hashana over, Jews around the world will soon tighten their belts in preparation for a day of fasting and prayer, Yom Kippur.
   According to Jewish beliefs, on Rosh Hashana people are inscribed into the Book of Life, detailing their fate for the coming year. Ten days later, at the end of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, that fate is sealed.
   The opening service for Yom Kippur-Kol Nidre, meaning "all vows"-asks God to annul all promises made between oneself and Him. This prayer is particularly important to Jews, who believe all promises binding.
   The holiday is a day set aside from the other days of the year to obtain forgiveness for the past year's sins against God. Before Yom Kippur though, Jews seek forgiveness from any people they have wronged so that the atonement is complete.
   Extra importance is placed on this day.
   "Yom Kippur is highly significant to most Jews. Even if they do nothing else religiously for the rest of the year, on Yom Kippur we will see them in synagogue," Lori Pines, director of North Texas Hillel, the Jewish college student organization, said.
   Yom Kippur lasts from sunset to sunset, and most of the day is typically spent in prayer at a synagogue.
   The holiday is a fast day, so eating and drinking are forbidden to all adults unless they are sick, giving birth or recovering from childbirth.
   Washing, working, wearing leather and engaging in marital relations are also prohibited during Yom Kippur.
   Rabbi Bentzi Epstein, executive director of the Dallas Area Torah Association, related a parable told by an ancient Jewish philosopher regarding the prohibition against leather shoes.
   "There is a chain of creation," he said. "On the first level are the silent creations: the stones and rocks; on the second level are the growing creations: plants and fungus; on the third level are the animals and on the fourth and final level are humans. Each level uses the one below for its growth.
   "By wearing leather shoes we signify that we're at the top of creation. The prohibition against them on Yom Kippur, though, shows that we are on the same level as all else and wholly at God's service."
   White clothes (to symbolize purity) are traditional during the holiday. Gold, however, is avoided as it serves as a reminder to the cause of the first Yom Kippur, the golden calf.
   The last service ends with a long shofar blast; afterwards, Jews return home to break the fast with those close to them.
   Michelle Bookatz, co-president of UNT Hillel, spends the holiday with her relatives.
    "On Yom Kippur, I am going to services with my family; then afterwards, I'll break the fast with my parents and grandparents," she said.
   Candle lighting for Yom Kippur occurs at 6:45 p.m. Sunday. The holiday begins at 7:07 p.m. Sunday and ends at 7:52 p.m. Monday.
   For more information about DATA, call 214-987-3282. For information about Hillel, or for synagogue seats for students away from home, contact Pines at 214-789-JEWS or visit the North Texas Hillel Web site at http://www.ntxhillel.org.