It's customary to greet one another in the days before Yom Kippur with the words "tzom kal" - "may you have an easy fast."
And I've decided that this is a terrible greeting.
I don't want my fast to be easy.
I want my fast to be purposeful. I want my fast to be meaningful. I want my fast to remind me that people are starving in the world. I want my fast to remind me that my spiritual self has work to do. I want to feel the light-headedness that comes at the end of the day when I've been on my feet for almost 12 hours leading services and I want that moment to lift me up and help me feel a true connection to God.
So this year I'm not wishing anyone an easy fast. May your fast be full of all that you need it to be. May your fast be powerful and purposeful and meaningful.
7 comments:
Well said.
Shabbat Shalom, and may your fast be what you suggest.
A very good point. Good shabbos and a meaningful fast!
What an amazing blog post. Thanks for sharing this different point of view.
Beautifully said...thank you! I will keep these thoughts in mind as I serve as sh'lichat tsibbur tonight and tomorrow. G'mar chatima tova!
just dropped by, very nice blog and topics too. :)
-cathy young
http://fashionhotwomen.blogspot.com/
My ulpan teacher told us it is better to say "tzom tov," as in "May Hashem respond to your fast for good." I had never heard that before, but it makes a lot of sense.
Yes...I am so with you on this one. Every time I hear the traditional greeting, I have to control myself! I like "tzom tov" and will use it next year.
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