Today is Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, the most solemn day in the Jewish calendar. It is a day of fasting and perpetual prayer.

Completing our study of the Amidah prayer:

Blessed are You Lord, who blesses His people Israel with peace. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable before You, Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer. My God, guard my tongue from evil and my lips from speaking deceitfully. Let my soul be silent to those who curse me; let my soul be as dust to all. Open my heart to Your Torah, and let my soul eagerly pursue Your commandments. As for all those who plot evil against me, hasten to annul their counsel and frustrate their design. Let them be as chaff before the wind; let the angel of the Lord thrust them away. That Your beloved ones may be delivered, help with Your right hand and answer me. Do it for the sake of Your Name; do it for the sake of Your right hand; do it for the sake of Your Torah; do it for the sake of Your holiness. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable before You, Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer. He who makes peace in His heavens may He make peace for us and for all Israel, Amen. He who makes the peace in His heavens, may He make peace for us and for all Israel, Amen. May it be Your will, Lord our God and God of our fathers, that the Bet Hamikdash be speedily rebuilt in our days, and grant us our portion in Your Torah.

Open my heart to your Torah and let me eagerly pursue your commandments. Make peace, fulfill your purpose, cause that which is broken to be made whole.

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The English atonement is derived from the Germanic attone or atoon. But it might as well be an English compound because it means "at one." It is essentially to be as one, in agreement, in harmony, where two or more become as one.

This is day to be at one with our Creator, to be as one as children of one Creator, to be as one with ourselves, no longer divided, confused, and uncertain; but fulfilled, whole, and complete.

Ten days ago I cast my sins into the Merced River. Last evening I transferred my sins to a living seed spinning about my head. But beyond this, I believe that even before I was born my sins were forgiven.

It is not forgiveness that is needed. That has already been guaranteed. What matters is my acceptance of the forgiveness and my readiness to be at one with God.