Yom Kippur ends with the Ne'ila (= locking, closing) prayer. You can feel the heightened intensity in the congregation in this last hour of a long day of prayer. We stand before the holy ark and plead
"OPEN UNTO US, O GOD, THE GATE OF MERCY, BEFORE THE CLOSING OF THE GATES, ERE THE DAY IS DONE. THE DAY VANISHES, THE SUN IS SETTING; LET US ENTER YOUR GATES!
We beseech you, O God, forgive, pardon, condone; have pity and compassion, grant us atonement, and subdue our sin and iniquity."
Thank you all for your expressions of solidarity and blessing for this long day of fasting and introspection.This morning I woke up to a surprise. Father Adam created a lovely post of Yom Kippur wishes for his Jewish friends, complete with a closing (or opening?) stained glass gate!
Thank you, FA. God bless you and all the new possibilities of interfaith learning that blogging opens for us.
FA is a Carmelite monk and priest in California and his Monastery Daily Photo is a welcome look behind the monastary walls. And he answers comment questions too!
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I agree with you! Father Adam is a blessing to all of us! How wonderful to have met him online. Holidays are great for reflecting. The door is perfect!
ReplyDeleteGod bless you for all your great posts, Dina! Without your informative entries I would have missed a lot of importants ideas and facts about your country and the Jewish religion, which is so important to my religion.
ReplyDeleteFather Adam's picture is beautiful. I thank you too for your beautiful posts, writing in such a lovely way about our country and religion:-)
ReplyDeleteBlessings to you, Dina! I love reading your posts - today is no exception! Wonderful door photo - a door lots lots of history! Thinks of all the people who have passed thru it!
ReplyDeleteWhat an incredible photo this is, Dina. I love the idea of the open door, opening your heart to interfaith understanding.
ReplyDeleteThe photo is absolutely breath-taking.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post.
Thanks, Dina, Greensboro, and Yaelian. Across oceans, countries and faiths we are united in our love for God.
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