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Walter G. Wasser

Life Over Despair: Yom Kippur’s Call to Action

On Yom Kippur, we stand still, immersed in self-reflection, tasked with the challenge of confronting what’s broken in our world and within ourselves. But as Alana Newhouse wisely states in a comment on Twitter, this period of deep introspection and acknowledgment of flaws has a time limit. It’s a single day set aside for confronting our shortcomings—not a life sentence to despair.

For many, this past year has been a journey of painful realizations, a time when the brokenness of our world was thrust upon us with a force that couldn’t be ignored. Whether it’s the tumult of global conflicts, political upheavals, or the growing cracks in social and communal structures, we’ve all had to face uncomfortable truths. Some of these realizations may have been things others tried to warn us about, but we weren’t ready to hear. For some, the sense of loss is profound, and the pull toward nostalgia for a world that no longer exists is strong.

But Judaism doesn’t give us the luxury to wallow. Yes, we mourn. Yes, we feel pain. But our tradition teaches that there is a limit to this process. Sitting in despair is not the Jewish way. We mark loss, but we don’t live in it. We don’t get extra points for fasting beyond the hours Yom Kippur prescribes or for extending shiva past its seven days. In fact, the Torah prohibits such excess.

Life is a primary value in Judaism. Mourning has its boundaries, but life must go on. There is holiness in mourning, but there is even greater holiness in returning to life with joy and resolve to fix what’s broken.

The danger of lingering in despair or outrage is that it saps our energy and clouds our vision. It’s all too easy, especially in today’s world, to get caught up in the swirling maelstrom of fear, anger, and negativity. Worse yet, there are those who profit from our collective fear, who seek to isolate us and fan the flames of dread. These voices aren’t helping us heal—they’re working against the sacred Jewish mission of tikkun olam, the repairing of the world.

From our tradition, we also understand that we must defeat our enemies, both spiritual and physical. The inner “Satan” that seeks to harm us spiritually, and the physical enemies that rise against us on the battlefields of Gaza, Lebanon, Iran, and beyond. May God grant us the courage and strength to achieve a complete victory.

Moreover, we must not forget those who have been taken from us. The hostages held captive by our adversaries are a painful reminder of the human cost of conflict. Our prayers and efforts must be dedicated to rescuing and returning these hostages safely to their families. It is our duty to stand united in the face of such injustice, to work tirelessly for their freedom, and to support those who are suffering.

Yom Kippur calls on us to reject these poisonous voices. While it’s essential to recognize what’s wrong, our job is not to sit paralyzed by it. We are commanded to return to life, to rise from the ashes of our introspection, and bring the joy, strength, and resilience necessary to make things better.

Life doesn’t wait. The brokenness we see around us isn’t an excuse to abandon hope, shut down, or refuse to engage with the world. It is a call to action—a reminder that the world needs us, not just our prayers, but our hands and our hearts.

As we emerge from Yom Kippur, let us heed its lesson. Let’s embrace life and the responsibility that comes with it. Let’s return to the work of living, building, and repairing with renewed energy. This is what our tradition demands of us: to live with purpose, to love with courage, and to work with determination.


גמר חתימה טובה—Gmar Chatimah Tovah, may we all be sealed for a year of action, joy, and life.

About the Author
The author is a specialist in nephrology and internal medicine and lives with his wife and family in Jerusalem.
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