It was a difficult Yom Kippur. Not with the fasting but with my personal struggle of Chesbon Nefesh(an account of the soul)
Steve Ornstein – Yom Kippur Thoughts and Photos from Tel Aviv Region
It was a difficult Yom Kippur. Not with the fasting but with my personal struggle of Chesbon Nefesh(an account of the soul). Together with my wife, friend and partner of 43 years we traversed the life we have shared together from the first time we met at Ananda Ashram in Monroe, N.Y.. I was teaching Yoga and Meditation and she was coming up from N.Y.C. for weekend retreats in one of the most beautiful areas north of N.Y.C.. The rest is our history together and our adventures with Gurus and Spiritual Teachers. But the moment we met Shlomo Carlebach our long journey back to our Jewish roots became a reality. Eventually shlepping three very young children to Israel and a Merkaz Klita at Kibbutz Tsora.
As Yom Kippur ends we prepare for the festival of Sukkot and in four days my brother and his wife will make their way to Israel to visit our family.
After my long journey into my dark night of the soul I asked forgiveness for too many transgressions. I then witnessed the eventual opening of my heart and the tremendous rush of love and gratefulness for family, community, and the opportunity to be living in our homeland. It was breathtaking! This PLACE is Holy, Alive, Vital, Loving, and most of all a caring place especially in need.
We have much to improve in our country including the opening of our hearts and pockets to the Jews and Non-Jews living here that need our help. This includes the “strangers in our midst”. The refugees from Africa, be they economic or political. They are here and we owe it to ourselves to fix and repair the brokenness that has evolved over time. We can do it because we have no choice if we want this country to be our Home-land.
Thanks to our dear friend Rozzie B.
The words of the prophet Isaiah on Yom Kippur:
