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Alternative readings can supplement the prayer book for added inspiration.

meaningful moments

_ making the most of Yom Kippur's closing window.

Looking for alternative Yom Kippur reading? Ask

friends for suggestions and check out your syna-

gogue library. You may find these book titles:

• Rosh Hashanah Yom Kippur Survival Kit by Shimon

Apisdorf offers wisdom, humor and homey spirituality.

by David Lehmann

inal Act of Yom Kippur: Ne'ilah. I open my
machzor (High Holiday prayer book), ignore my

hunger and continue with the services. I focus my
thoughts on the closing window, the one that will not re-

open for another year.
"Ashamnu," I recite. With a closed fist, I lightly pound
my chest. "Aveinu Malkeinu" (Our Father Our King). I
think about the changes I want to make in the year to
come. Then, the rabbi blows the shofar: a final signal.

Until next year, until next year.
I am aware that this particular combination of emo-
tion, faith and contemplation is mine alone. For the
person next to me, the Yom Kippur experience may be
completely different. Many people, teens especially, may
feel Yom Kippur lacks the meaning they sought. I have
had times when my experience did not fulfill my spiritual
needs adequately. So what can you do to achieve an im-

proved Yom Kippur experience?
Kale Davidoff; a 17-year-old student at West Bloom-
field High School, says, "It does not take an observant
Jew to be able to find a connection to Yom Kippur." For
some people, the machzor and the traditional services fall

flat and feel like an empty ceremony that's merely long

and laborious.
Lauren Mondry, a teen who attends Temple Israel in
West Bloomfield, focuses on the rabbi's sermon as a way
of finding meaning on Yom Kippur. "If what the rabbi
says connects to me or my life," she says, "then the expe-

rience as a whole is better."
Utilizing your inner voice to find that connection can
allow you to appreciate what God has given you or to
consider what you can change about yourself
If, however, neither the traditional prayer book nor the
meditative mindset suffices as a means of inspiration, a

wide variety of alternative texts may touch you in a way
that standard prayers cannot.
Plugging into the Internet before the holiday is a won-
derful option. A multitude of Jewish Web sites offer in-
sightful reflections about this important holiday. Certain
Web sites contain an "ask a rabbi" option; therefore, any-
one can send a rabbi a question to be answered via email.
The Chabad Web site, askmoses.com , allows people to

ask questions in real time, thus enabling dialogues on-

line.
Another way of conveying concepts and philosophies
central to Yom Kippur is through tales. Try aish.com .

continues on page 4

•. The High Holiday Synagogue Companion by Rabbi

Zalman Goldstein, a guide to the High Holiday prayer

book, with inspirational readings and stories.

• Days of Awe by Shmuei Yosef Agnon

• The Book of Jewish Values: A Day-by-Day Guide to

Ethical Living and Jewish Wisdom by Joseph Telushkin

• This is Real and You Are Completely Unprepared:

The Days ofAwe as a Journey of Transformation by

Alan Lew. a spiritual journey of inner transformation

• A Treasury of Chassidic Tales on the Festivals (Book 1)

by Rabbi S.Y. Zevin

• Preparing Your Heart for the High Holy Days by

Kerry M. Oiitzy and Rachel T. Sabath. Reform rabbis

offer a moral inventory and 40 steps to repentance.

Web Sites:

• wwv,,.aish.corn/hhYomK/hhYomKDefault/ — humor-

ous, poignant, thoughtful essays about Yom Kippur

• www.tfdixie.com/holidayslyom/ — essays for the

holiday

• www.myjewishlearning.com — a good transde-

nominationai site with everything for different levels

of knowledge

• www.askarabbi.com and www.askmoses.com

— get your questions about Judaism answered