25 hour fast

Only the first few hours of yom kippur (the day of atonement, and the holiest day in Jewish tradition, where we fast for 25 hours to repent our sins from the last year) has passed. People mainly reflect on the harm they have done to others, whether it was intentional or not. Along with this, i would like to add that no one should judge someone else before completely knowing them. Ask questions, learn about the life they have before you make a conclusion about who they are.

At 11pm, I took a walk down Rothschild Boulevard - literally ON the road. This is the only day in Israel where 100% of the country is at a complete halt; no businesses are open and no cars on the street. Just time to rest and think. Only today do you see people pushing strollers, walking their dogs, or on their bikes, or teenagers learning to skateboard ON the road. As I notice my surrounding environment and see all of the couples, friends, and dogs having a good time, I can't help but to realize that this is the first time since I moved here that I could hear the air conditioners making noise, rubber bike tires turning...  The Tel Aviv I'm used to has screaming children, drivers constantly honking their horns, people yelling from across the street. This is the one-time a year I (don't) hear my city noiseless.

In short, this day is to think about the ways you've hurt others and ways you need to change in order to   not have that reoccur. Besides judging, criticizing, and complaining about others or yourself, also gets you nowhere. Improve yourself for you.

I'm going to sleep because I'm too hungry to be awake right now! Lyla tov and I wish everyone an easy fast.