THE 26 HOUR FAST FOR YOUR LIFE

בס"ד

9 Tishrei

With the lyrics of Leonard Cohen's "Who By Fire" dancing through my intrepid brain, I am inspired to make a list of:

The 10 things I would like to improve about myself this year, 1 for each of the Days of Awe in Tishrei:

1. increase my patience
2. decrease my fear
3. stop berating myself when I make small, human mistakes
4. give more money to tzedaka
5. volunteer a few hours each week to perform charity work
6. not withdraw completey from my community when I'm hurt or grieving
7. improve my relationship with food by divorcing my self from my mother's war trauma
8. stop interrupting people when they are speaking
9. slow down so I can be more conscious
10. really deepen my trust in G@d


All of the fast days, when observed properly, draw down Divine grace from the ultimate source of mercy, G@d's Name Havayah.

The Sefer Hatanya quotes the Arizal (Rabbi Yitzchaq Luria) as teaching his students to fast 151 fasts to repent for their anger. Nowadays, many people give charity instead of fasting (but not on the general fast days in the Jewish calendar, only for "personal" fasts). "Anger," or "ka'as" in Hebrew, equals the number 150. The rectification for anger (150), is anger plus 1 (G@d is One,) or 151. Your connexion to G@d can help you to rectify anger. It is advisable to give the sum of 151 to charity in dollars or other denomination each time that you become angry. That'd sure make me think twice before I lost my temper! I'll envision all that cash next time I get mad, & how I can't afford to part with it...

For a Hassidic bent on fasting (think Jewish Sufis) check thisout.

MAY ALL THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL BE SEALED FOR A GOOD & SWEET YEAR, FULL OF BLESSINGS, & FAVOUR FROM THE HOLY ONE!