An invitation, an original prayer, and a couple of shameless plugs

Gentle Friends,

A Good New Year, a Sweet New Year! Meaningful Holy Days to you, from me and Gentle Jewish Yoga.

An Invitation

It’s not too late to join GJY and Breeyah for Yom Kippur at the Holy Spirit Retreat Center in Encino on Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 8 and 9. Our spiritual, experience-oriented program will feature beautiful music, accessible prayer, meditation and gentle yoga amid lush surroundings. The program is free, with donations welcome.

A Prayer

The High Holy Days are a time of introspection, when we ask ourselves whether the choices we have made for our lives remain fulfilling and expressive of our truest selves – or if we need to rethink our ways.

Kol Nidre is often called the emotional high point of the 10-day period of teshuvah – return – when we ask God to free us of commitments we have made that are no longer working for us, so we can see free to move on.

In honor of this, I offer my interpretation of the Purification Prayer, traditionally said at the beginning of the Kol Nidre service. It incorporates the Kabbalistic teaching that the body and soul are linked through the 10 Sefirot, or aspects of Godliness, which live within us as vessels for Holy Presence. As we start our 5-part fast, we commit ourselves, body and soul, to doing the work needed to open ourselves to Spirit, and to open our lives to change.

Purification Prayer / Tefillah Zakkah
by Avivah Winocur Erlick

I have contaminated my mind with polluted thinking,
allowing worries to smother inspiration, and drives to override dreams. May my fast this Yom Kippur bring God’s flowing presence to Keter, Chochma and Bina, and clarity to my thoughts.

I have contaminated my hands with leniency and with greed, allowing strict discipline to smother kindness, and “wanting to please” to undermine healthy boundaries.
May my abstaining from washing this Yom Kippur bring God’s flowing presence into Chesed, Gevurah and Tiferet, and heart-centeredness into my emotions.

I have contaminated my legs by running to do evil, behaving in antisocial ways, and cutting myself off from the love and guidance of others.
May my not wearing leather shoes this Yom Kippur bring God’s flowing presence into Netzach and Hod, and moderation into my behaviors.

I have contaminated my intimacies with objectification, selfishness and excess.
May my abstention from relations this Yom Kippur bring God’s flowing presence into Yesod, and groundedness into my connection with others.

I have contaminated my world by overlooking the impact of my life on everyone and everything around me. I have failed to accept responsibility for my own priorities.
May my rest from labor this Yom Kippur bring God’s flowing presence into Malkhut, and through me, l’ta-ken o-lam, to heal the world.

I extend complete forgiveness to everyone who has harmed me, whether through word or deed. I hold no grudges and grant complete forgiveness. May no one suffer on my account.
And just as I forgive everyone, so may You, Holy One of Blessing, grant me favor in the eyes of everyone I know, so that they will grant me complete forgiveness.

***

And now, shameless plugs for two worthy organizations deserving of your Rosh Hashana tzedakah: the Israel Homeless Association, helping to feed Israel’s displaced citizens; and School on Wheels, which offers free tutoring and other assistance to homeless kids here in Southern California.

Blessings and Peace,

Avivah Winocur Erlick

Israel Homeless Association
POB 70

Tel Aviv 61000

IsraelHomeless@gmail.com

USA Phone (202) 609-7965

RobinHoodIsrael@gmail.com

School on Wheels, Inc.
P O Box 2283
Malibu, CA 90265
administration@schoolonwheels.org
(310) 589-2642.