By Eric Schoen
As we prepare for Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement for Jews around the world, we ask for forgiveness for our sins. Now I promise I’m not going to go all Bible on you this week. But the prayers we recite remind us of sins we may have committed during the previous year and ask for God’s forgiveness.
This led me to think about sins I may have committed and sins other people I know have committed over the last year. Covid certainly has changed our lives and made everyone nervous and scared, rightly so. As we go to press there is great controversy over whether there will be a need for a third ‘booster’ shot. So many people have refused the vaccine for fear of putting a newly created foreign substance in their bodies. Children going back to school in New York City driven in MTA buses and trains driven by drivers who have not been vaccinated. The chance of spread of the virus from these individuals to children many too young to get the vaccine is great according to the transportation and health officials.
Let’s focus on some sins we and others may have committed over the course of the last year and ask forgiveness.
For the sin of getting on the 10 item limit line at the supermarket with 11 items in our shopping cart.
For the sin of overeating grapes or cherries at the supermarket to see if they meet our standards and not paying for them when we buy the items for consumption of our family.
For the sin of passing a homeless person by, or worse giving him or her money that could be used to purchase alcohol or illegal substances instead of taking the time to buy the person something nutritional to eat or bringing back a piece of clothing to help the individual stay warm or keep covered.
For the sin of passing a Salvation Army bell ringer during the holidays and not dropping a dollar or some coins into their red kettle supporting an organization that helps so many in need.
For the sin of not thanking someone who held the door open for us or holding the door open for someone behind us who may need assistance.
For the sin of parents doing their children’s homework or projects instead of merely assisting or guiding the child so they have a true learning experience.
For the sin of parking in a Handicapped Parking Space without proper credentials. Or having the credentials and using them falsely just for convenience.
For the sin of drivers for Lyft or Uber or other similar services picking up food to eat and blocking cars, traffic or parking illegally just to get the food to those that want it quickly while others are inconvenienced and many others with no food on the table.
For the sin of using the self scanner in the grocery store and putting an item in your bag that you have not scanned or would not scan and not bringing it to the clerks attention.
For the sin of passing an accident and not getting out of your car to offer help or at the very least calling 911 on your cell phone requesting assistance from the authorities. Or calling the radio station you listen to and reporting the accident to them so they can tell others affected.
For the sin of not greeting a Pastor or Sister wearing a collar or habit even if they are not of your faith. As my mom use to say, ‘Cover all your bases!’
For the sin of knocking something over in the grocery store, making a mess and not bringing it to the attention of those responsible for remedying the situation. Or breaking something in a store and at least offering to pay for it or at the very least cleaning it up.
For the sin of in the middle of a pandemic not washing ones hands as we were taught as a child rinsing with soap and water for 20 seconds and possibly spreading germs to others because we are in a hurry to go someplace.
For the sin of double parking, parking in front of a fire hydrant even if it is for 30 seconds or blocking a crosswalk where people must cross causing a dangerous situation for all those involved.
For taking an over abundance of food at a buffet that we will not possibly be able to consume hogging the line before others have had the opportunity to be served. Wasting food while others are hungry.
For the sin of not wearing a mask where the proprietor requires or suggests one be worn in the midst of the crisis before us.
For the sin of leaving shopping carts at the grocery store in handicapped parking spaces, blocking cars whose drivers are shopping, in parking spaces blocking other people from parking and not bringing them to the cart corral or to the front entrance of the store.
For the sin of driving like a maniac, 60 mph in a 30 mph zone endangering our lives and the lives of others. For not making sure everyone in our car is ‘Buckled Up’ properly as required by law and for safety purposes.
For the sin of not voting in elections where many people in the world would do anything in their power for such a precious right. For not picking up the phone to bring to the attention of our elected officials a problem that could affect many people just because we don’t have the time. And for elected officials not responding to problems brought to their attention allowing the homeless to roam the streets, those that commit crimes to go free without bail, and for doing favors for friends that are not always for the common good.
For the sin of crossing over yellow lines on the street that are not made to be crossed over. Going through red lights. Speeding through yellow lights to beat the red light.
For all these sins which we have committed we ask our God, whoever he or she may be to Bear With Us, Pardon us and Forgive us. And from my home to yours, to Jew and non-Jew alike greetings for a Happy, Healthy New Year in a World of Shalom, Peace.
Reach Eric Schoen at thistooisyonkers@aol.com. Follow him on Twitter @ericyonkers. Listen to Eric Schoen and Dan Murphy on the Westchester Rising Radio Show Thursday’s from 10-11 a.m. On WVOX 1460 AM, go to WVOX.com and click the arrow to listen to the live stream or download the WVOX app from the App Store free of charge.
