Insights from Reverend Hazan Benlolo

Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, has always been the holiest and most solemn day in the Jewish calendar. It is a time when the world seems to stand still, when Jews around the world enter into a collective silence, seeking forgiveness, renewal, and a higher meaning. It is a day that transcends generations, connecting us to our ancestors who also stood before God, their hearts trembling but their spirits filled with hope.

Yet today, Yom Kippur takes on an even more pressing, more timely, and more essential dimension than ever. The political climate places Jews in many parts of the world facing uncertainty, polarization, and sometimes even hostility. The rise of antisemitism, instability in Israel, and the divisions that run through our societies weigh heavily on our minds.

In such a context, Yom Kippur reminds us that true strength lies not only in political power, but in the moral clarity, spiritual resilience, and unity of the Jewish people. As the prophet Joel proclaims: “Return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning” (Joel 2:12). The Torah also teaches: “For on that day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you; before the Lord you will be clean” (Leviticus 16:30).

Ce n’est pas un hasard si Yom Kippour tombe presque toujours à proximité de la paracha Haazinou. Dans ce poème d’adieu, Moïse en appelle aux cieux et à la terre comme témoins de l’alliance d’Israël avec Dieu : « Prêtez l’oreille, ô cieux, et je parlerai ; que la terre écoute les paroles de ma bouche » (Deutéronome 32:1). Haazinou est à la fois un avertissement et une promesse. Elle rappelle que l’oubli de l’alliance mène aux épreuves, mais que son souvenir nous ramène à la vie, au renouveau et à la bénédiction.

Ensemble, Haazinou et Yom Kippour forment un appel puissant au retour. Haazinou nous dit de ne jamais oublier qui nous sommes, et Yom Kippour nous donne l’occasion d’agir sur cette mémoire — de nous repentir, de pardonner et de recommencer. Dans un temps de tempêtes politiques, ces messages nous exhortent à dépasser la peur et le désespoir, et à nous attacher à notre alliance éternelle avec Dieu.

Comme le rappelle le prophète Zacharie : « Ce n’est ni par la puissance ni par la force, mais c’est par Mon esprit, dit l’Éternel des armées » (Zacharie 4:6). Cette année, plus que jamais, Yom Kippour n’est pas seulement un jour de jeûne et de prière : c’est un jour d’espérance et de détermination. C’est un appel à renforcer notre identité juive, à résister à la haine avec dignité, et à illuminer le monde de la lumière de la techouva, du pardon et du renouveau.

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The Power and Awe of Yom Kippur and Haazinu in Our Time

Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, has always stood as the most sacred and awe-inspiring day in the Jewish calendar. It is a day when the world seems to pause, when Jews across the globe enter into a collective silence, seeking forgiveness, renewal, and a higher purpose. It is a day that transcends generations, uniting us with our ancestors who also stood before God with trembling hearts and hopeful spirits.

Yet, today, Yom Kippur feels more urgent, more relevant, and more necessary than ever before. The political climate has left Jews in many parts of the world facing uncertainty, polarization, and even hostility. Rising antisemitism, instability in Israel, and divisions in societies across the globe weigh heavily upon us.

In such a time, Yom Kippur reminds us that strength is not found in political power alone, but in moral clarity, spiritual resilience, and unity of purpose. As the prophet Joel declared: “Return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning” (Joel 2:12). The Torah itself affirms: “For on this day, atonement shall be made for you to cleanse you; before the Lord, you shall be purified”(Leviticus 16:30).

It is no coincidence that Yom Kippur almost always falls in proximity to the Torah portion of Haazinu . In this poetic farewell, Moses calls upon the heavens and the earth as witnesses to Israel's covenant with God: “Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak; and let the earth hear the words of my mouth” (Deuteronomy 32:1). Haazinu is both a warning and a promise. It reminds us that forgetting our covenant leads to hardship, but remembering it leads us back to life, renewal, and blessing.

Together, Haazinu and Yom Kippur form a powerful call to return. Haazinu tells us never to forget who we are, and Yom Kippur gives us the opportunity to act on that memory—to repent, to forgive, and to begin again. In a time of political storms, these messages urge us to rise above fear and despair and to hold fast to our eternal covenant with God.

As the prophet Zechariah proclaimed: “Not by might, nor by power, but by My spirit, says the Lord of Hosts” (Zechariah 4:6). This year, more than ever, Yom Kippur is not only a day of fasting and prayer—it is a day of hope and determination. It is a call to strengthen our Jewish identity, to resist hatred with dignity, and to illuminate the world with the light of teshuvah , repentance, and renewal.

Reverend Hazan Daniel Benlolo