Good afternoon everyone
So today is Yom Kippur. It is a day where us Jews fast for 25 hours and repent for all our sins. Sounds like a pain right. Fast for a long time, sit in shul and say sorry for all the things we will probably do again. So what did I learn from all of this??? I will tell you
There is a section today where people who have lost loved ones sit in a service and remember their loved ones. I thank G-D do not have to sit in this service but before it I was told a story I want to share with you.
A while ago there was this girl who had to go to jail for 11 and a half years because she stood up for what she believed in. She had a father and an 8 month old son. She left a red purse with the father and told him to please look after her son and she will see them both in 11 years time. The only thing that kept her going in prison was the thought of her son. 11 years past and she was released and went to her father and asked where her son was. He said he was at school and that she must go look for him.”But father I have changed and the last time I saw him he was 8 months old. How can he remember me?” Her father when to the bedroom and brought her the red purse.” This will reunite the two of you. Every member I share with him about you, I show him this red purse. Go and find your son my child.” She took the red purse and went to the school. The bell rand and all the children came out. A young boy pulled on her arm and said, “Mommy is that you?” She started to cry and embraced her son and did not want to let go.
What do we learn from this story??? Every family needs a red purse for the loved ones that has passed away. Their memories can live on inside of us. 4 times a year, their souls come down to earth and stands next to us during this service and they see what we have done with their memories and their lessons they have taught us. As long as we have the red purse, they will be able to find us and we can find them in anything we do that they taught us or used to do. Something as simple as making their favourite food or sharing a lesson with your children.
They are always there for us when we need them. Not many of us look up and talk to our family members that have died but they are right there waiting to listen to you and even though they cannot tell us what to do, it is comforting to know someone will always listen.
I hope you take this story to heart and realise that keeping people in our hearts, will keep their memories alive.
Have a good fast my fellow Jews and may you all be inscribed in the book of life.
Ash
xxx
Ashlee Zlotnick
Poetsandall's Blog 