Don’t say ‘Happy Yom Kippur’: How to greet someone observing the Jewish Day of Atonement

**Yom Kipper Hebrew greeting for those celebrating Yom Kippur that reads G’mar Chatima Tova**

Yom Kippur, which is observed from sundown Tuesday to sundown Wednesday, is considered the holiest day of the year in Judaism. It’s a high holiday that follows Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.

by Carly Mallenbaum, USA TODAY

But it’s not exactly a “happy” holiday. So don’t tell someone “Happy Yom Kippur.”

“This isn’t a day of raucousness and partying,” says Becky Sobelman-Stern, the chief program officer at the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles. “Yom Kippur is not about being happy. It’s about thinking. It’s about self examination.”

Yom Kippur translates from Hebrew to English as Day of Atonement. Traditionally, Jews spend the holiday fasting and reflecting on sins committed over the past year.

Even if you’re not Jewish, you can acknowledge the holiday, and it is indeed respectful to share well wishes to your friends and colleagues who do observe.

So, what should you say or write? There are some options.

The traditional Yom Kippur greeting

“G’mar chatima tova” is the customary greeting on Yom Kippur. In English, it means “May you be sealed in the Book of Life.”

According to Jewish tradition, one’s fate is decided on Rosh Hashanah and sealed on Yom Kippur.

“Our lives are in the balance between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur depending on how we act,” says Rabbi Andrea London of Beth Emet synagogue in Evanston, Illinois.

“The fully righteous are inscribed (in the Book of Life) for the year, the wholly evil are not inscribed and the rest of us need to work to make amends and make sure we have more good deeds than bad, if we want to be sealed for another year of life,” she adds.

Rabbi Sarah Krinsky of Adas Israel Congregation in Washington, DC, says “not many moderns hold this literal theology.” She’s among them, but that doesn’t stop her from sending the message “g’mar chatima tova” for Yom Kippur.

Of note: The “ch” sound in “chatima” is not pronounced like the English word “chat.” Instead, it should sound more like guttural utterance from the throat because it comes from the Hebrew letter Chet. “G’mar hatima tov” is also acceptable to say.

Will Florida Accept that Socialist Aid?

The president said he’s spoken to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and noted that the federal government will cover 100 percent of the cost to clear debris.

Jewish High Holidays

Rosh Hashana starts at sundown on Saturday September 24, 2022. It is the first day of the Jewish New Year 5782. The Chinese call 2022CE 4720.

Yom Kippur starts at sundown on October 4, 2022. For 24 hours Jews will fast.

President Joe Biden’s Malarkey

In his interview with “60 Minutes” correspondent Scott Pelley, President Biden said that the COVID-19 pandemic “is over.”
(Eric Kerchner / 60 Minutes / CBS)

In what world does Joe Biden live in? This president and his administration told us the border is secure, inflation is transitory and the pandemic is over. Sadly, the truth is that more than 400 Americans are dying every day from COVID-19, more than 2 million migrants have been arrested entering the U.S. from its southern border in fiscal year 2022, and inflation is still raging.

You can call it malarkey or baloney or any other word but I call it a stream of lies. Biden is not the first president to feed the Americans a stream of nonsense.

Donald Trump fed Americans a daily dose of COVID baloney that included inhaling bleach and taking anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine. There was also the suggestion that Ivermectin, an anti-parasitic medicine for both humans and animals promoted as a covid treatment despite a lack of evidence.

Big stories like the A-bomb stayed out of the news until after the war ended. The main focus of the media was high morale and support for the war effort.

Malarkey and baloney are not a new thing. George Washington did not cut down a cherry tree.

Preparing for the 2024 Democratic Party Primary

President Biden told 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley last Thursday that while he intends to run for reelection in 2024, the decision is still up in the air.

“Sir, are you committed to running again, or are there certain conditions that have to be right?” Pelley asked.

“Look, if I were to say to you, I’m running again, all of a sudden, a whole range of things come into play that I have– requirements I have to change and move and do,” Mr. Biden said. “In terms of election laws. and it’s much too early to make that kind of decision. I’m a great respecter of fate. And so, what I’m doing is I’m doing my job. I’m gonna do that job. And within the time frame that makes sense after this next election cycle here, going into next year, make a judgment on what to do.”

“You say that it’s much too early to make that decision,” Pelley said. “I take it the decision has not been made in your own head?”

“Look, my intention as I said to begin with is that I would run again,” the president said. “But it’s just an intention. But is it a firm decision that I run again? That remains to be seen.”

Vice President Kamala Harris and California Governor Gavin Newsom have received the message. They have discretely started to prepare for the 2024 primary.

Newsom ads in other states have begun. “Need an abortion? California is ready to help.” That’s one of the billboard advertisements that the Newsome campaign is paying for. The billboards will be displayed in states including Texas, Mississippi and Ohio.

Harris has been traveling around the country talking about defending democracy and appearing at every photo op from 9/11 ceremonies to abortion rights events and recently appeared on Meet the Press. All meant to improve her communication skills. She may be the heir apparent but in the rough tumble world of politics it is not a given.

I Really Don’t Want Any Problems in this Country

Hugh Hewitt, a conservative radio broadcaster interviewed Donald Trump today on his show. Former president Donald Trump warned that if he were indicted on a charge of mishandling classified documents after leaving the White House, there would be “problems in this country the likes of which perhaps we’ve never seen before.” And added “I don’t think the people of the United States would stand for it.”

If ever the implied threat was stated that was it. Recall this:

Who said I will make you an offer you can’t refuse?

Image result for let me make you an offer you can't refuse

He says, “I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse.” It’s actually Al Pacino, playing Vito’s son Michael Corleone, who said, “I’ll make him an offer he can’t refuse.”

Personally as I parked my car in downtown Los Angeles a young man approached and said, “Can I watch your car to make sure it is safe?” I handed him $5. “Thanks for the help.”

The difference between Donald Trump and Al Pacino. Pacino is an actor. Donald Trump? Well, you can figure that out.

Old Men Ruling the World

Sadly we have a world of government leaders who are old. They hold a perspective based on the past. I know. I’m old myself. It’s not just President Joe Biden (79) and King Charles III (73). Xi Jinping is 69. Vladimir Putin is also 69. Donald Trump is 76.

What new ideas can we expect from these people? Donald Trump dreams of becoming president again but we have not heard one new idea. His focus is on his loss of the 2020 election and getting even with his supposed enemies. Joe Biden has not been a uniter and has expressed no vision for the future (think JFK putting a man on the moon). Charles III says he will follow his mother’s example but what did she do other than sit on the British throne?

Leaders of the U. S. congress includes Speaker of the house Nancy Pelosi who is 82. Leader of the Senate Chuck Schumer is 71. Republican Senate leader Mitch Mitchell McConnell is 80. Some other old timers in the Senate

State	First Name	Last Name	Party	Age	Birthdate
California	Dianne	Feinstein	Democratic	87	6/22/33
Iowa	Chuck	Grassley	Republican	87	9/17/33
Alabama	Richard	Shelby	Republican	86	5/6/34

Queen Elizabeth II – A Wasted Life

Queen Elizabeth II arrives for a state banquet in her honor in Berlin during a royal visit to Germany in June 2015.

Queen Elizabeth II, who has died age 96 after the longest reign in British history, will be mourned around the globe as one of the last monarchs born to a classic age of European royalty, when kings and queens wielded genuine political power.

A wasted life. She could have and should have done things to make the world a better place. She did none of that.

We can only hope that King Charles III, with all his power, does more than sit on the throne.