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<p>KINGSTON &#8212; Jewish people around the area are engaging in the process of &#8220;heshbon ha-nefesh,&#8221; taking stock of their soul during the high holiday of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.</p><p>The holiday observance began at sundown Tuesday and continues through sundown Wednesday, with many Jewish people spending much of that time in the synagogue.</p><p>Rabbi Roger Lerner, of Temple B&#8217;nai B&#8217;rith, said the holiday period started last week with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year, with the sounding of the shofar, calling the faithful to &#8220;wake up&#8221; and recommit their lives to God.</p><p>The days between the two holidays are termed the &#8220;10 days of penitence,&#8221; an opportunity for change.</p><p>Lerner said Yom Kippur, a Bible-based holiday, provides an opportunity for people to ask God for forgiveness through fasting.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s time for self-reflection both on yourself and your community,&#8221; he said.</p><p>Lerner said the holiday requires participants to not simply seek forgiveness from God, but from &#8220;friends and fellows,&#8221; as well.</p><p>&#8220;In a world so focused on &#8216;me,&#8217; this is a chance to stand out from the &#8216;me culture,&#8217;&#8221; said Lerner. &#8220;Emphasizing that you must do for others, be for others and continue to be a better person as the year progresses.&#8221;</p><p>Debbie Troy, of the Temple Israel Board of Trustees, appreciates the holiday as a time to get away from the busyness of life and find a sense of calm during holiday services.</p><p>&#8220;For me, it&#8217;s a time when I can listen to the rabbi and the cantor. My only responsibility is to participate in prayer. I think it helps me be a better person every day in regard to my community and my family,&#8221; Troy said.</p><p>Lerner said the holiday is a solemn one requiring fasting for 25 hours.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s not a time of punishing ourselves,&#8221; said Troy. &#8220;But, when you can set aside eating and preparation for eating, you can focus on the spiritual. On a normal day, you would go home to make lunch, but Yom Kippur is not a normal day.&#8221;</p><p>While it is not his favorite holiday, Lerner appreciates the opportunity for reflection and recommitment to God and others.</p><p>Robert Greenwald, of the Temple Israel Board of Trustees, said the holiday has been passed down from generation to generation throughout history.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s an opportunity to look at yourself in the mirror,&#8221; he said. &#8220;And to become a better person.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Rabbi Roger Lerner looks over the Torahs to be used during Yom Kippur services. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_TTL101216YomKippur1-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Rabbi Roger Lerner looks over the Torahs to be used during Yom Kippur services. </caption0><photoCredit0>Aimee Dilger|Times Leader Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Area Jewish community observes Day of Atonement</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Geri Gibbons</p><p>ggibbons@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Geri Gibbons at 570-991-6117 or on Twitter @TLGGibbons</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Yom Kippur calls the area’s Jewish community to self-reflection, forgiveness