Tomorrow, on Yom Kippur, we will knock on our hearts and admit to ourselves: chamasnu! We have engaged in evil this past year. We have hated. We have acted violently. We have caused harm. 

What purpose would this admonition of regret, this recognition of harm, serve if not to encourage and move us to take action, to do better? To act with love, with compassion? 

Every day when I daven the Amidah, I knock my fist over my heart, admonishing myself for my own mistakes. Slach lanu avinu ki chatanu, Machal lanu malkeinu ki phashanu. Forgive me, God, I am human. I’ve caused harm. 

But it doesn’t end there. I then open my fist, resting my hand over my heart. I allow myself a moment to believe that even though I am human, even though I make mistakes and I hurt other people in the process, I can try again. Every day I remind myself, graciously and gently, that I believe in my own ability to do better.

Our knocking is meant to be followed by a soft palm, reminding us of our role in doing better, and bringing more goodness into the world. 

I invite you to try this practice on over Yom Kippur. After the Ashamnu prayer, after repeatedly knocking on our hearts with our fists, can we open our palms and remind ourselves of our ability to do the work of chesed? 

May we be blessed with a year that allows us to bring blessings to ourselves and to others.

Wishing us all a Chatimah Tovah, 

Rabbi Lara