Natalia Zaretsky is a Being Jewish reader who has lived two rich lives — the first in Russia, the second in the U.S. She was born in Moscow, taught physics there, and immigrated to the U.S. with her daughter to escape anti-Semitism. 

On Yom Kippur, every year 
We, Jews, reassert our belonging to a tribe. 
Other ancients disappeared from the face of the earth, 
but we survive holding onto 
The Book that prescribes the laws of Jewish Lives — what,when, how. 
I know little, I do little, but nevertheless, 
I want to belong to that family, 
scattered among countries and cultures. 

This day of repentance, somber — not sad or grievous, 
we fast from sunset to sunset — 
the whole day without a drop of water! 
On this autumn sunny day I walk from house to house asking 
forgiveness of friends for bad things I have done to them. 
My shoes are tight and I have a blister on my sole, 
but I continue up the hill to the synagogue to make 
the Ecclesiastic affirmation that there is time for everything — 
for patience, arguments, love,war, contemplation. 

Now the hardest of all is to ask God’s forgiveness. 
How could I, ignoramus, un-religious, ask him to forgive me? 
I carry out only a few tiny duties of 613 commandments, 
which we have been chosen to fulfill. 
How could I ask for anything? 

On this Holy day we search for two goats. 
One is without blemish — for our goodness, 
another — a scapegoat, carrying our sins, 
to be sent to the wilderness to the wicked Azazel. 

Probably we are not very righteous — 
We do it every year. 

Natalia is now a retired computer programmer who enjoys writing poetry. Her work has been published in many magazines and papers as well as in her book entitled Autumn Solstice, published by Windsong Publishing and available at barnesandnoble.com.

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