Most people know that in Israel Yom Kippur is a day for bicycles.  It’s the only day cars don’t run, the only day the streets are empty, so people who don’t go to services, who can’t connect to religion, ride around with the kids.  Or maybe they walk – walk to the beach, walk around the synagogue, walk to parks.

Some of our friends have wild dinners, but the friends we visit late in the evening pretty much fast, so we don’t get to celebrate.  But always there is a feeling of contemplation, reflection.  

in fact, before the days begins, tonight in a few minutes, I’m going to apologize to a friend or two.