Friday, September 13, 2013

G'mar Hatimah Tovah

For the first time since I turned 13 and had my bat mitzvah, I'm a little torn. I always fast on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. It's the holiest of days in the Jewish religion, a 24-hour period of self-deprivation and fasting meant to show your contrition and set the new year up on a good foot with G-d.

This is also the holiday during which we take time to make right the wrongs we've perpetrated throughout the year. In the Jewish religion, it's imperative to receive forgiveness from those you've hurt; forgiveness cannot come from a third party. Yom Kippur isn't exactly a happy, warm, cuddly holiday. It's a holiday about self-reflection and brutal, hard honesty.
Sunrise over Masada in Israel, 2012.
I, like many other Jews, fast during Yom Kippur. But this is the first year I've had to weigh my yearning to fast with my training schedule. I did a run last year after fasting that left me feeling weird and unsteady. If I fast, even if I plan to move my long run from Saturday to Sunday, I don't think my body will be ready for 17 miles.

So what comes first? My cultural and spiritual identity, or my commitment to myself?
The Western Wall in Jerusalem, 2012
Pushing back my long run would be good for my foot, too, so I guess there's a lot going in favor of choosing to fast and take the weekend's expectations down a notch.

Either way, I plan to do a nice, short run tonight. I love running on holidays. I love having the time to reflect and turn my gaze inward. But I can't run too long, because by the time I'm done, I won't be able to refuel.

I hope everyone has a great weekend. Here's to a good new year.

ABK

14 comments:

  1. Happy New Year! My step-mother is Jewish, so I grew up celebrating all of the Jewish holidays as well. I think whatever choice you make will be a good decision. You know yourself the best!

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    1. I've decided to fast. I couldn't say no :o) I hope your step-mother is enjoying this time of year!

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  2. Happy New Year!
    I love learning about this religion.
    I loved this post.
    You do what is best for you.
    Your training plan won't mind if you have to push back 17 miles!

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    1. Aw, I'm glad you git something out of this, since it's mostly just random mental rumination lol. I think Sunday I'll do 9 or 10 miles and treat this week as a cut-back week :o)

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  3. I definitely think stick with your religion ... :) But that is just my opinion, do what your gut is telling you :)

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    1. Gut followed :o) Luckily my gut is pretty connected to tradition. I pushed off my long run and will probably drop the miles down to give myself recovery time.

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  4. Cheers to a good new year! The road is always open - the 17 miles will happily wait for you :)

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  5. Oh tricky one. But i think your foot would love another rest day!

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  6. I love Kristina's comment - "The road is always open". Blessings to you in the new year.

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    1. Thank you :o) I tend to agree with Kristina, too.

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  7. L'Shanah Tovah! I went to seminary with an eye to becoming a Hebrew Bible scholar. Learning the language (and, eventually, teaching it) were my favorite parts of my seminary curriculum. Dating a guy from a Jewish family, the members of which had varying levels of commitment to the faith (from atheism to Orthodoxy), added to my experience of Judaism and certainly enhanced my understanding of Christianity along the way.

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    1. Thank you!

      You probably know more Hebrew than I do, if you taught it and everything! For me, Judaism is a cultural identity. Going to Israel last summer was one of the most amazing, life-affirming experiences of my life!

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