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There seems to be an increasing amount of rhetoric these days in all walks of life. Posturing, theatrics, self-serving speeches, all dominate the media. For a culture that seems never to have enough time, we seem to spend an awful lot of it discussing (or arguing about) what we might do, rather than getting something done. But, we know that there are many actions that speak louder than words.

We are taught that Yom Kippur is a time for repentance and forgiveness. Even as children, we understand what it means to tell someone you are sorry, and we hope to hear words of forgiveness in return. But, on this "Day of Atonement," exactly how does a person atone for past transgressions to ensure the promise of the New Year becomes reality? In Torah, there are detailed descriptions of methods for atoning for sins. These are the passages about animal sacrifice which we now see as anachronistic, and distasteful, or unseemly, at the least. So, today we need to find another means of attaining atonement. Rabbi Yohanan ben Zakkai, student of Hillel and founder of the great rabbinic academy at Yavne, offered a solution to this dilemma after the destruction of the Second Temple made sacrifice impossible. He taught "[t]here is another way of gaining atonement even though the Temple is destroyed. We must now gain atonement through deeds of lovingkindness."

This is a means of achieving atonement that we understand well - gemilut hasadim. Our modern Jewish community is built upon the value of performing acts of lovingkindness, of moving beyond the rhetoric and actively making a difference. In our professional and personal lives, with family, friends, clients, and strangers, we know how to improve ourselves by treating others with dignity and respect as we care for and honor them. On this Yom Kippur, may we commit ourselves to another year of performing acts of lovingkindness each day, so we can gain atonement through our actions.

G'mar Hatima Tova.