Gemar Chatima Tova

It was Yom Kippur yesterday, the Jewish holy Day of Atonement. Gemar Chatima Tova is what you say on this day, since the idea is that at the start of the year, you (hopefully) get written in the Book of Life for at least another year.

I don't remember being in Israel for Yom Kippur ever, and it was amazing. Through my fast-induced haze (fast to atone for your sins and - for me - cleanse the body to prepare for the new year), I managed to be awed by the fact that the entire city of Jerusalem stopped. As in, no cars even. In fact, it is tradition that it is the one day of the year when you can WALK down any street or highway, because everything is just totally silent. You don't understand what it is like to live in a big, LOUD, messy city - and then have a day of complete inaction.

This is Betzalel, a busy street near my house. Note that the road is the opposite of normal - the cars are (parked) on the side of the road, and the people are in the middle. It's pretty crazy, and totally cool.

It was interesting to see how different people around me treated the holiday. Most people I know were surprised to know that I fast, because I don't tend to be very religious. My boss fasted and prayed the whole day the way you're truly supposed to, and my roommate didn't fast at all. In the morning I had some introspection time on the meaning of Yom Kippur and applying it to my life. In the early evening, we went to the top of this building in the Old City (AMAZING view, I tried to take pictures but it was too dark by the time I got around to it) to watch the sun set. I burned my list of sins/things I need to let go of up there, and then we went to break the fast. All in all it was one of the most unique, peaceful, and fulfilling days I've had in my life. I feel really good going into the new year, and about making changes that are going to be good for me. They say "Next year in Jerusalem," - well, I damn well did it this year!