facebook-pixel

‘Mormon Land’: Utah rabbi talks about forgiveness and atonement while Middle East fighting rages

Rosh Hashana (Jewish New Year) and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) offer a chance for Jewish adherents to reflect, remember, recommit, repent and forgive.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Rabbi Samuel Spector, in 2019, at Congregation Kol Ami in Salt Lake City.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Rabbi Samuel Spector, in 2019, at Congregation Kol Ami in Salt Lake City.

By https://s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/sltrib/a7e1ce28-5353-4737-87a7-c7be13b28f3c.png Peggy Fletcher Stack  and https://s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/sltrib/f3e9e416-7f19-42ab-bb72-56a51e519a6f.png David Noyce
 | Sep. 25, 2024, 2:46 p.m.
| Updated: Sep. 26, 2024, 10:02 a.m.

Next week, Jewish adherents across the globe will begin the annual 10-day examination of their lives and deeds.

It starts with Rosh Hashana (Jewish New Year) on the evening of Oct. 2 and concludes with Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) on the evening of Oct. 11. It is a time for self-reflection, for commemoration, for celebration and for recommitment. It is a chance to think about forgiveness and to make amends to those they have harmed.

This year’s High Holy Days are especially fraught for the world’s Jewry with so many eyes are on Israel and its ongoing battles against Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. There’s also a war in Ukraine and deep divisions in the United States during this election season.

(Chris Samuels | The Salt Lake Tribune) Congregation Kol Ami Rabbi Samuel Spector in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024.

On this week’s show, Rabbi Samuel Spector, leader of Salt Lake City’s Congregation Kol Ami, discusses the importance of these holidays at this particular time.

Listen to the podcast:


Support free news for Utah

sltrib.com is now free to access — no subscription required. We made this decision because we believe access to trustworthy, independent news shouldn’t depend on what you can afford — especially as misinformation and AI-generated content continue to rise.

Free to read doesn’t mean free to produce. Our reporters show up every day to ask hard questions and hold powerful institutions to account. That work takes resources. As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on support from people who believe it matters. Make a donation today to fund local news that serves Utah communities.

You can help us bring more local news to more communities today.

$15$25$35

MOST VIEWED