Aija Mayrock's Yom Kippur Reflection Journey

A Travelling Observance

Yom Kippur—the Day of Atonement, known to some as Yom Shippor — is the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, a time for reflection and spiritual renewal. This isn't passive thought; the holiday calls for active abstention. Twenty-five hours of fasting, no distractions like phone, music, or even brushing your teeth. Millions worldwide participate. These rituals are more intense than physical fasting or no digital distraction. They're the means to focus on reflection, a crucial component of the holiday.

Observing Yom Kippur in Ramen

This year, Aija Mayrock, with her bowl of ramen, brought us a literal and metaphorical reminder of what this intense fasting means. As the author herself puts it, "For the next 25 hours, I will not eat or drink anything. And I am not doing this alone."Mayrock intends to reflect on her past mistakes, seek forgiveness, and commit to personal improvement for the upcoming year. However, this practice isn’t confined to the observant Jew. Aija's journey shows why this holiday is so vividly resonant across many cultures.

At the Root of Introspection

Yom Kippur is a mix of faith and personal reflection. The Jewish community recognises the holiday as "Yom HaKipporim," translating to the day of covering or atonement. It wasn’t always this way. Earlier traditions may have had less emphasis on it being the day of atonement. In modern practice, this covers a wide range of sin in Judaism — anywhere from lying to offensive behavior. The Jewish community calls Yom Kippur the holiest day on their calendar. For Aija Mayrock, it is "about using the time to reflect." The holiday isn’t simply about fasting but rather about releasing the self to a state of ‘recollective gratitude.’ The humble observance provides a window into the resolutions of someone looking to improve trusting relationships and showing gratitude.

Trust Through a Ramen Bowl

How can fasting for a day be a ritual for improved trust? Fasting and reflection create a space and time where you can't consume and therefore measure actions by a uniquely focused moral lens. At a young age, Aija Mayrock had a learning experience when she dealt with bullying. She was left feeling less trusting of people, and she's decided to change that. For her, Yom Kippur can be "an opportunity to reflect on my mistakes in the past year." Using the essence of Yom Kippur's fasting, Mayrock will work on embracing trust as a personal growth step.

Gratitude through Gastric Pangs

Similar to trust, gratitude is another focus area for this year’s observance. She explained "I want to show gratitude for the people and the planetthat I love." Externalising in the form of thoughtful actions like not eating or drinking something for such a long time may reinforce the gratitude in the mind during the fast. The act of fasting hopefully will help engrain reflection and gratitude. The aim is to engage all five senses to reinforce gratitude.

Isolation and Self-Reflection

Among many details of the day, the most powerful idea Yom Kippur provides is the idea of isolation from the world. This forces you to change the balance between senses and thoughts. The absence of distraction gives a fresh state of mind. It can change the way people approach emotions. This change can provide an emotional reference point for the upcoming year.

Self-Guidance for the Spirit

• Pray and Reflect:
  • Yom Kippur is not for eating or consuming anything, but for prayer and reflection. If you want to engage in observance, start with the morning prayer. It involves deep spiritual reflection and letting go of the guilt in the heart and letting the heart speak louder.
• Reflect on What Matters:
  • Think of moments of joy and happiness you’ve felt with your near and dear ones, and things that make you grateful. It could be personal milestones, family achievements, or little gestures of love towards you.
• Dedicate Time and Space:
  • Make dedicated time and space for self-reflection and gratitude. This is the hardest part. Willpower is required. Some suggest picking a specific location and time for self-reflection and introspection. Even if you can't spend 25 hours fasting, and few hours of cease-consuming can help.

Embracing the Little Things

The fast is not a punishment. Rather, it’s about reflection and gratitude. The practice is a reminder to enjoy life's simple pleasures. Mayrock’s journey shows how the practice of self-denial can foster appreciation. When you experience the discomfort of no longer darkly consuming food and drinks, you can observe how much you miss them. The denial helps to highlight the joys of consuming food. You take into account every time you consume anything, whether it's food, drink, or anything else. For the upcoming year, Mayrock plans to relax and relish every moment of her life.