Peter Himmelman on Yom Kippur as a day of Jewish unity — Jerusalem Post
In the Israeli publication Jerusalem Post, American musician and writer Peter Himmelman reflects on Yom Kippur as a day that unites Jews regardless of their religious observance. He writes that in rabbinic usage, this holiday is sometimes called Ha-Yom — “The Day” — setting it apart even among other sacred days.
Belonging, not just faith
The author recalls his childhood in Minnesota in the 1960s and 1970s, when many Jews he knew attended synagogue only on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. As an example, he cites the fictional Ed Shapiro — a secular Jew who does not believe in God and does not understand the language of ancient prayers, yet still comes to synagogue and fasts for 25 hours without food or water.
In Himmelman’s view, this image conveys a sense of belonging to the Jewish people. He suggests that a person who was not allowed into a synagogue on Yom Kippur might even risk their own safety in order to attend the prayer service.
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Memories and religious practice
Himmelman writes that as a child he did not want to go to synagogue, but his father suggested that he imagine he would not be allowed inside. The author calls this a lesson not about faith, but about belonging. He also recalls swastikas that he regularly found at his school.
Today, according to Himmelman, he observes Shabbat, kashrut, and Jewish holidays, and also puts on tefillin every weekday morning. The author continues to reflect on the idea of God and believes that Yom Kippur brings the Jewish people together at the beginning of the new year with wishes for health, joy, and peace.
