Today is the first day of “The Days of Awe” in Judaism. The Days of Awe start with Rosh Hashana (the Jewish New Year) and goes 10 days until Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). It is during these 10 days we are encouraged to take stock of our lives and right the wrongs of the previous year. This is the time for repentance and forgiveness.
Part of the liturgy during Rosh Hashana is a poem/prayer called “Unetaneh Tokef”:
On Rosh Hashanah it is written, and on Yom Kippur it is sealed.
How many will pass and how many will be created?
Who will live and who will die?
Who in their time, and who not their time?
Who by fire and who by water?
Who by sword and who by beast?
Who by hunger and who by thirst?
Who by earthquake and who by drowning?
Who by strangling and who by stoning?
Who will rest and who will wander?
Who will be safe and who will be torn?
Who will be calm and who will be tormented?
Who will become poor and who will get rich?
Who will be made humble and who will be raised up?
But teshuvah (atonement and repentance), tefillah (prayer) and tzedakah (charitable acts) deflect the severity of the decree.
This is a very powerful poem that encourages us to both turn inward and outward at the same time to be sealed for a good new year of life on Yom Kippur.
What does it mean to turn inward and outward at the same time? The Days of Awe give us the opportunity to take stock of our lives over the last year (turning inward) and to take the steps necessary to right the wrongs that we may have committed against others and against God (turning outward). The Days of Awe are the most spiritual time for Jews as we right the boat for ourselves, so to speak. Let’s define and discuss the benefits of “teshuvah”, “tefillah” and “tzedakah.”
TESHUVAH — Whether you are Jewish or not atonement and repentance have a great impact on our mental health. Negative actions and thoughts can breed resentment, despair, and depression in many of us. Guilt that we carry with us over our misdeeds leads the mind down the rabbit hole of self-doubt and psychological pain. The act of atonement and repentance, reaching out to your fellow human and admitting you did something wrong and asking forgiveness without expectation of anything in return allows us to heal those wounds and move on from the pain of the things that we do, whether consciously or unconsciously. These actions allow our mind and body to heal, makes for better interpersonal relationships and changes our attitudes towards others and ourselves.
TEFILLAH — For those of us who have difficulty believing in God, prayer sounds like a silly endeavor. After all if we don’t believe in a higher power, why pray? I would submit to you that meditation is just as good. Turning inwards and experiencing the still silent voice that comes from prayer and/or meditation allows for us to experience a better understanding of ourselves and the world around you. I struggled a lot with prayer for a while because I didn’t have a firm belief in a higher power. However, after learning how and establishing a regular routine of meditation and self love, I came to understand that there’s something larger than me. It’s through prayer/meditation that we can all come to a similar understanding and therefore can embrace the world in a different light. If we can learn to be kind to ourselves, we can make our lives worth living.
TZEDAKAH — Charitable works are a very important part of turning outward. Having an understanding that there is a world out there beyond yourself and actively working to make that world a better place helps us get out of our own minds. Charitable works not only help people less fortunate than us but it also gives us an opportunity for mental/spiritual healing. During my deep depressive episode that nearly ended my life, at the suggestion of my therapist, I volunteered at my local food bank sorting produce. Not only was the repetitive process of sorting fruit very meditative for me, it was helping me come out of my depression. Doing something for somebody that will never be able to repay you not only is good for those less fortunate but is also restorative for the body, mind, and soul. If you haven’t tried it, I highly recommend it.
Although the Days of Awe are only 10 days, Judaism says that you should carry these 3 actions through your daily life. Imagine what your life could be like if you could regularly right wrongs, meditate and/or pray, and do things for others. These 3 activities, when performed on a regular basis, help to restore us to a better mental baseline. Feelings of depression and anxiety depart when we are better able to live for ourselves and those around us.
Regardless of whether you’re Jewish or not, try these out in your own life and report back to me how it made you feel. Did you have a deep revelation about yourself or the world at large? Did it help you get out of your own mental fog? How was it? Let me know in the comments.
L’shana Tovah Tikateivu! May you be inscribed in the book of life for a good year!