This Yom Kippur, like every Yom Kippur, all Jews stand together, carrying the profound weight of the past year. The memories of those lost on & since Oct 7th & the ongoing trauma sit with us continually. Our prayers for them are woven into our deepest confessions.

Our collective confession, the “Ashamnu” hits differently this year. We confess to the hardening of our hearts from pain & fear, of failing to see the divine in every person, & we seek the immense strength for the forgiveness that feels distant & difficult in these trying times.

The shofar blast ending the fast, or your time of reflection, is a call to the resilience our ancestors showed in building our communities. It is a call to support one another now, with unwavering strength. Our unity is our fortitude in the face of a challenging world.

As the gates close this Neilah, may the Windsor community, all Jews, and people worldwide, be sealed for a year of healing, security, and peace. May we find the path from mourning to meaning, and from brokenness to wholeness.

G’mar Chatimah Tovah.