Maggie's Farm

The "Days Of Awe" begin with Rosh Hashanah and end 10 days later with Yom Kippur. These High Holy Days are a period of intense soul and behavior searching, and repentance only comes from abject admission of sins, earnest apologies and restitution to those harmed or needlessly offended, and a strict course of reform. It is appropriate that the Torah portion of this week is Deuteronomy 32.1-35.52.  Moses is denied entry into Israel due to his prior sins and he is instructed by G-d to recite a poem to the Hebrews to remind them that if they stray from G-d they may lose G-d's favor.

This period and warning are not applicable just for a day, or a week, or even a year. The warning is applicable throughout our lives. This isn't to say that any of us will not fail from time to time but that the course of getting back on track is clear, is within out own power and responsibility, and does not come from or depend on absolution by G-d.