Yom Kippur 5777

[At this time I shall have no words regarding the e-l-e-c-t-i-o-n, other than to say that I have already mailed in my absentee ballot.].

Yom Kippur will soon be upon us.  As always, I ask forgiveness from those I may have wronged, and grant forgiveness to those who ask it in sincerity.

Everyone have an Easy Fast! 

חתימה טובה!

An Easy Fast to All

Tonight at sundown is Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year.  There is much to be accomplished today in my busy schedule,  I at least take this opportunity:

A.  To wish everyone an easy fast;

B.  To forgive all who in earnest ask my forgiveness for whatever they may have done or not done during the past year; and

C.  To sincerely beseech the forgiveness of all whom I may have wronged or slighted.


I further note that tomorrow, on Yom Kippur itself, Iran's evil leader Ahmadinejad is slated to address the UN General Assembly.  The scheduling is at a time when Jews are preoccupied with Yom Kippur.  This calendar placement, I believe, is deliberate and intentional, and was done with the connivance of the Obama administration.

To our Christian (and, I am informed, a number of Sikh) friends who plan to be there to speak out in protest, I extend my greatest appreciation.  You surely will be remembered by me, and by Higher Powers as well.

Mechilah

Yesterday at shul, the Rabbi made several comments. It was particularly crowded, as was expected, given that the Rabbi and Rebbitzen had lots of guests for their daughter's Bat Mitzvah.

One of the things the Rabbi mentioned was that it is now the Month of Elul, and we should not wait until Yom Kippur to grant mechilah (forgiveness) to all who have wronged us during the year.

I asked the Rabbi whether we are required to forgive people who continue to keep on wronging us. He assured me that just because I forgive you for doing something to me yesterday doesn't necessarily mean that I am forgiving you for doing it to me again tomorrow.

And so, I hereby grant mechilah (reserving, of course, the right to collect monetary debts owed) to any and all who have wronged me during this past year. When you seek forgiveness from G-d, you can now tell Him that you have resolved your wrongs against me, and that he should not punish you on my account.

I also take this opportunity to ask mechila from any and all I may have wronged during the year.

And I intend to continue to pay off all of my monetary debts on or ahead of schedule.