I have been a diversity practitioner for over 28 years now and I still amaze myself by how much I don’t know. As I have said many times, becoming competent in diversity and inclusion takes time, study, practice, reflection and now I am adding courage to the list.
It takes courage to step out of your comfort zone to learn about something or someone or a group that you may not be familiar with. So here is my confession. I don’t have courage when it comes to learning about other religions or even different expressions of faith within Christianity. I have actually been somewhat in denial about this because it is sometimes hard to face your own shortcomings. When I analyze why I am so uncomfortable with the topic of religion, I can conjure up a number of reasons that stem back to my childhood and the fairly rigid belief system of my family. However, be that as it may, I want to change.
Today is Yom Kippur, and until a few weeks ago I had very little understanding of what it meant in the Jewish faith. I was jolted from my world of denial when a good friend and colleague suggested that I could have picked a different day to host a webinar on cultural competence!
Yom Kippur is one of two very significant annual Jewish holidays. Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is the start of the 10 days of repentance, a time for Jewish individuals to let God know that they will follow his commands. Yom Kippur, is the holiest day. It is a Day of Atonement for sins of the past year. Yom Kippur, observed with fasting and other activities, this year is from sundown September 25 to sundown September 26.
I was not even sure of the proper well wishes to give to someone observing Yom Kippur so I asked one of my Jewish friends and he said there really isn’t one because it is a day of atonement.
In my research I found that if you do want to extend wishes it would be appropriate to say…We wish you an easy fast and G’mar Hatimah Tova (translation: May you be sealed in the book of life).
The Inclusion Solution: Know yourself and your areas of discomfort. Be courageous. Lean into your discomfort, be willing to be vulnerable and when you don’t know learn by respectfully asking and doing your own research.
I wish for all of those observing Yom Kippur today an easy fast.
Mary –
Thank you for having the courage to post about your shortcomings as it relates to religion! This has very much been on my mind as well, as a Jewish colleague respectfully called several of us out for inviting him to a meeting on Rosh Hashanah. It was even on my calendar in Outlook and I missed it! I think the more comfortable we can get with admitting what we don’t know (or always do well), the more free we will be to learn and grow. Thank you again for your timely and honest post.
Hi David,
How are you? Thank you for taking time to respond to my post. I am glad that it resonated with you. Peace and blessings.
Thank you very much for sharing your experience and self-reflection. I grew up in Mexico where there is even less religious diversity (at least explicit) and I share your struggle to be aware of what different beliefs mean to different people and how they impact their way of life.
I also enjoyed learning more about the two most important Jewish holidays and their significance. GRACIAS!
Hi,
I really appreciate your feedback. Thank you so much. Have a blessed day.