Yom Kippur, the day that Jews fast and repent, can best be defined by the statement of Socrates that an “unexamined life is not worth living.” On Yom Kippur, we embark on a journey of introspection, and by doing so, we confer meaning and purpose to our lives. The essence and greatness of a human is defined by his capacity to think. And setting aside time to contemplate life is what removes man and elevates him from the animal kingdom. Just like the body needs food, being human needs contemplation.
The motions of a human can be identical to that of an animal. From the exterior, we eat, sleep, and roam the earth. But by deliberating, we extricate ourselves from habit and lifeless routine that we are accustomed to throughout the year. We imbue depth and meaning into our actions.
Animals react. Humans act.
So on Yom Kippur we step into the light and become a little bit more human; a little bit more ourselves. That’s why Yom Kippur is considered a festival. And indeed, a festival it is.
2021