Yom Kippur reading and activities

Recommended reading for the Day of Atonement:

1. Days of Awe, Edited by S.Y. Agnon. Its a essentially an anthology of religious writings and commentary relating to the high holy days. Its very good. inspirational, interesting, informative. Strongly recommended for orthodox and non-Orthodox alike.

2. www.tanach.org. Print up anything they have about the high holy days. I also recommend the shiur on parshat Hazinu. This is great Torah, written by someone who is orthodox and really uses his moyach. Strongly recommended for the orthodox reader and for the highly intelligent non-orthodox reader who maintains an interest in orthodox theology.

Recommended activities for Yom Kippur eve:

1. Do kapparot in Geulah (Mea Shearim) in Jerusalem, find yourself a good shochet who holds the blade in his teeth like a merciless pirate!

2. Ritual immersion at the beach (most cities have separate beaches for that very personal nude dunking)  and/or in a natural spring mikve like liftah in Jerusalem or the Arizal's mikve in Tzfat.

3. Give Charity to the poor of your city (which takes precedence over any other charity according to the Talmud).

4. Buy an Artscrol inter-linear Machzor (they are excellent. especially for the long amidah viduy prayers).

5. drink lots today so you don't dehydrate tomorrow. I have been there and it sucks.


I hope its a good one for us all. 

Gmar Hatima Tova

Frank