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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