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A Day of Atonement

By Jeralyn, Section Other Politics
Posted on Sun Oct 01, 2006 at 04:37:18 PM EST
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Yom Kippur begins at sunset -- an hour or so from now, Denver Time. Arianna gets a head start with a list of people who most need to atone. Chief among them: George Allen, Mark Foley and congressional Republicans and Democrats who voted for the torture/denial of habeas bill.

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    A Day of Atonement | 9 comments (9 topical)
    Re: A Day of Atonement (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Oct 01, 2006 at 05:56:46 PM EST
    Stop making aspersions about George Allen being Jewish.

    Re: A Day of Atonement (none / 0) (#4)
    by Aaron on Sun Oct 01, 2006 at 06:22:14 PM EST
    "Real Jews" don't comment on Yom Kippur. :)

    Re: A Day of Atonement (none / 0) (#5)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Oct 01, 2006 at 07:13:29 PM EST
    mrs. skippy, one of the chosen people, celebrated yom kippur by eating crabs in maine today. ok, she doesn't keep kosher.

    Re: A Day of Atonement (none / 0) (#1)
    by demohypocrates on Sun Oct 01, 2006 at 08:24:44 PM EST
    This might be the most offensive post I have yet to see at Talkleft. It trivializes the true meaning of an important religious holiday to score cheap political points. I know may will chime in, "Well Republicans...." yadda yadda yadda, but that doesn't excuse this offense. Shame on you Jeralynn. You are almost always above this.

    Re: A Day of Atonement (none / 0) (#3)
    by cpinva on Sun Oct 01, 2006 at 08:24:44 PM EST
    funny thing, the people who most need to atone, usually are totally oblivious to the fact.

    Re: A Day of Atonement (none / 0) (#6)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Oct 01, 2006 at 09:02:43 PM EST
    Real Jews follow their own conscience. G-d does not dictate what they believe. My post was made before sundown. My own atonements are private. That which our elected officials should atone for has no such limitation. Atonement is not limited to Jews. That today Jews express their own "sins" and request forgiveness for them, in no way limits them from pointing out those of others who should similarly atone. What is offensive is comments by those who project their own views of atonement on others. "Hear Oh Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One [Deuteronomy 6:4]." My favorite is this -- the vi'a-haftah:
    Thou shalt love the Lord, thy God, with all thy heart, with all thy soul and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be upon thy heart. Thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt speak of them when thou sittest in thy house, when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. Thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thy hand and they shall be for frontlets between thine yes. Thou shalt write them upon the doorposts of thy house and upon thy gates: That ye may remember and do all my commandments and be holy unto your G-d."
    Sh'mah.

    Re: A Day of Atonement (none / 0) (#7)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Oct 01, 2006 at 11:12:24 PM EST
    How about the whole Bush administration. Well, they'd need at least of week.

    Re: A Day of Atonement (none / 0) (#8)
    by theologicus on Mon Oct 02, 2006 at 06:19:59 AM EST
    I agree that turning the Day of Atonement into a moment of political finger-pointing is (to say the least) an exercise in poor taste. Isn't the Day of Atonement meant for individual and communal self-examination? Isn't it a Day that acknowledges the need for mercy toward others and repentance for oneself? Isn't it a Day in which politics can be de-centered, for once, for the sake of turning to something higher in prayer? Isn't it a Day to refrain from making accusations against others? Please forgive these reflections from a non-Jew.

    Re: A Day of Atonement (none / 0) (#9)
    by theologicus on Mon Oct 02, 2006 at 06:31:00 AM EST
    P.S. I should have thought that "real Jews" acknowledge that G-d is higher than their conscience.

    A Day of Atonement | 9 comments (9 topical)