Yoni Kahan leads a company that provides vacation packages for Jewish people who want kosher food and other Jewish needs while on a holiday.

While on one of his many business trips to the alps in Italy, he missed out on his booking that he made for a hotel, due to flight delay and traffic. He then made a booking at another hotel that was in a remote location, in the middle of the forest, far from the city.

As he made his way to the hotel he thought to himself, “a Jew believes that everything that happens has a purpose, there must a mission for me here in this remote place.” When he arrived, the fellow at the desk said, “Shalom!”
“Hey are you Jewish?” Yoni asked. “Yes, my name is Stefanos but my Hebrew name is Yosef.”

Stefanos began to chat about his Jewish upbringing. Since it was a few days before Rosh Hashana, Yoni offered to blow the Shofar, Stefanos happily agreed. Then Stefanos said he remembered a song from the Slichot prayers called “Adon Haslichot.” They sang it together right there in that remote hotel in Italy.

Starting this week we begin reciting the prayers of Slichot as we get close to Rosh Hashana. Selichot services are communal prayers for Divine forgiveness, said during the High Holiday season. In Ashkenazic tradition the first night of Selichot is held on a Saturday night before Rosh Hashanah. Since this year Rosh Hashanah begins on Monday night, Selichot commence this Saturday night, approximately a week and a half before Rosh Hashanah.

There is a popular song they sing in Israel from the Slichot “Adon Haslichot,” where we say, “G-d we have sinned.”

It seems strange to sing about our sins! The idea is that we are going about repentance with joy. We are not celebrating the act of sin Heaven forbid. We have deep regret over our mistakes, but we are joyous that we can fix our ways and come closer to Hashem. There is no greater joy to a parent more than seeing children becoming better people, and wanting to be close to their parents. The joy that we bring to Hashem when we improve our ways is immeasurable.

The Talmud says, “Nothing stands in the way of Teshuva. (returning to G-d).” Hashem’s door is always open, lets go inside.

Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Zalman and Esty