(Jewish Group) Yom Kippur Is the Antidote to Cancel Culture
On Thursday, Jews across the globe will be observing Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year. A day of revival and renewal, Jews prepare for the Day of Atonement by asking forgiveness from anyone we might have wronged throughout the year. The day of Yom Kippur is devoted to reflecting on the deeds of the past year and prayers asking God to forgive us, accompanied by a 25-hour fast.
And in this social media age of public shaming and the rigorous policing of a new moral purity, the values of Yom Kippur could not be more relevant. Put simply, Yom Kippur is the antidote to cancel culture.
The holiday serves as a model for healing personal divisions like those that have become deeply entrenched in our cultural zeitgeist. But unlike the unforgiving nature of our current cultural moment, Yom Kippur allows us to release the heavy burdens of our past by seeking to repair relations with those we've wronged, actively making our lives better for ourselves and others.
Essentially, Yom Kippur is the answer to our cultural reckoning: It's a holiday that celebrates collective accountability as a means of healing. While its tone is perceived as utterly somber, its message is much more optimistic.
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An interesting take on Yom Kippur.