38 | SEPTEMBER 26 • 2019 

T

the Jewish High 
Holidays and particular-
ly Yom Kippur provide 
an opportunity to reflect on the 
year and look more deeply into 
any actions that might have 
brought pain to others. 
Engaging in acts of prayer, 
charity and repentance (also 
referred to as teshuvah) serve 
as atonement for sins against 
God, according to 
Rabbi Aaron Starr 
of Congregation 
Shaarey Zedek of 
Southfield. 
“However, when 
one person mis-
treats another, one 
must directly and actively seek 
forgiveness from the person 
wronged,” he said. “On Yom 
Kippur, especially, we are to 
be reminded that how we treat 
others — individually, com-
munally and nationally — and 
especially how we treat those in 
need, are of greatest importance 
to God. 
“As such, practicing atone-
ment, especially with regard to 
our interpersonal relationships, 
is the centerpiece of the Yom 
Kippur holiday.”
“Sorry,” however, can be 
one of the hardest words to 
say. If the misdeed or hurt is 
large enough, or if the person 

wronged has special importance 
to us, it’
s incumbent that the 
interaction happen face-to-
face, according to some rabbis. 
This entails acknowledging the 
misdeed, requesting forgiveness 
and vowing not to repeat the 
hurtful behavior.
“It’
s important in today’
s day 
and age that we go to people 
and say we’
re sorry for what 
we’
ve done,” said Rabbi Josh 
Bennett of Temple Israel in 
West Bloomfield. “There is a 
concept in Judaism that we are 
assessing ourselves” during the 
High Holidays.
“We are trying 
to determine 
whether we ‘
hit 
the mark.’
 We all 
need a moment 
to reflect and 
determine if our 
actions make us proud,” he 
added.
Starr says that people realize 
they have the power to bring 
about peace between them-
selves and someone whom they 
have wronged. 
“By asking forgiveness and 
granting forgiveness, we can 
take steps toward achieving the 
peace we so desperately desire. 
We can also alleviate for our-
selves the burden of carrying 
the weight of anger and even, 

Jews in the D

High Holidays afford time for
self-refl
 ection, forgiveness and
improved relations with others.

ELIZABETH KATZ SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

Sorry Seems to Be
the Hardest Word

Starr

Bennett

continued on page 40

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