September 25, 2026
One of my most traditional beliefs is that the Romans got it right on holidays; we simply do not have enough celebrations in the modern era. While we can create our own—birthdays, housewarmings, and the like—there remains a difference between an event celebrated in one’s circle alone versus one at large. I much prefer the public displays at large with festivals and feasting before returning to a quieter place and smaller celebration. Perhaps we may one day engineer a Shabbat tradition which covers these bases. However, my most adored holiday happens to be the most austere—Yom Kippur.
For those unfamiliar, Yom Kippur is concerned with communal atonement for sin, involving a full day’s water fast, no showering, and no sex. The latter actions are listed separately, as they do not absolve one of sin—prior prayer and apology do so—but these actions remind one of the body’s existence in the world such that this ascetic practice brings one closer to the experience of living. Much of our material comforts exist to distract us from the energy it takes to simply exist, but exhausting oneself ensures that all one has left is communal prayer, others, and one’s own mind; it is the closest (B”H) most of us will get to an animal existence in our lifetimes.
There is something in the act of asceticism that carries meaning. If we were to exist in these animal states perpetually, they would lose their meaning. As we are commanded to enter them for a brief time, it provides contrast to our world. Suffering too makes it much richer (even if cold-turkeying caffeine is particularly rough!).
Acting as a group also feels nice. This is not unique to religious practice. There are so many reasons why I enjoy dodgeball and softball, and communal suffering certainly helps! The act of rising to our feet again and again as the day stretches on to sing has a particular ecstatic joy, even if our voices are faltering by the end.
You may notice that I’ve not mentioned G!d in this so far. Yom Kippur is the day on which we are closest during the year. There is something ineffable here which I cannot describe in positive terms. All I can say is that this day is unlike all other days. One part which merits description is the end of the day where we, one by one, approach the Torah. This is an open-ended activity, and here it felt like emerging from the Torah as I approached it to consume whatever mental phenomena I delivered to it. Despite the cold of the day (though it was not actually cold, just calorically deficient cold), one could be warmed there. There, I left my year and sat down. Was that an experience of G!d? Perhaps. Any attempt to prove this would be futile. It exists for me and those who took the day with me. Perhaps that is enough.