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Vulnerability Alert - Returning Home to My Father’s Legacy and My Own




Allow me this vulnerable share as I reflect on a sacred time. As sundown approaches, Yom Kippur begins (Oct. 11-12), the Holiest day in the Jewish calendar, I feel a stirring within me—a connection to my father’s heritage that has always lived inside, but in a way that has often felt distant, like I was on the outside looking in. This year marks 29 years since I lost him, and I find myself reflecting on my mixed heritage and how it shaped my sense of belonging. Being from a mixed religious background, I have often felt like I wasn’t fully a part of "the tribe," hovering between cultures, trying to find my place in both.



Yet, as Yom Kippur nears, something within me shifts, drawing me closer to that part of my father’s legacy. It’s a reminder that the connection is not about strict religious observance but about the essence of the day: introspection, humility, and a reconnection to something greater. Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, calls us to reflect, forgive, and renew. For me, it also offers the chance to heal that sense of otherness by embracing the wholeness of who I am.


This sacred day invites us to ask: where have we strayed from our truth, and how can we return to alignment? Teshuvah, the practice of returning, is not just about seeking forgiveness from others but about reconciling with ourselves and the divine. This mirrors the journey I’ve explored in my spiritual practice—returning home to myself, embracing vulnerability, and offering compassion to the parts of me that have felt disconnected or left out.


Even if I don’t follow the traditional fasting or prayer rituals, there’s something profound in simply being present during Yom Kippur. I light a candle, talk to me dad in Spirit, sit in quiet contemplation, and invite my soul to reconnect with the themes of forgiveness, compassion, and renewal. It’s a time to release what no longer serves and to create space for living authentically, in alignment with both my father’s heritage and my own spiritual path.


Spiritually, Yom Kippur also aligns with the natural cycles of autumn, a season of letting go and preparing for renewal. Just as the trees shed their leaves, I am reminded to release old patterns and energies, making room for new growth. This holiday, while rooted in tradition, has an esoteric significance that speaks to me beyond the bounds of religion—it is an opportunity for recalibration, to realign with my highest self, and to remember the interconnectedness of all life.


For those of us who live in the space between cultures, Yom Kippur can become a bridge, a moment where we honor both our heritage and the broader spiritual practices that guide us. As someone who is “half-Jewish,” (that feels awkward to write by the way) I take this time to not only honor my father’s legacy but also to integrate the deeper teachings of this day into the tapestry of my life. It’s a blending of traditions, a space where I can reflect, transform, and live more consciously.


As Yom Kippur arrives, I invite you to join me in this sacred pause—whether you observe the holiday in the traditional sense or simply choose to reflect and realign. Let it be a time to release, to forgive, and to renew, allowing our hearts to open to the possibilities of the year ahead.

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