May G-d bless you and cause his countenance to shine upon you and those you hold close. Gmar hatima tova.

THis article is better than Uri Misgavs rant.

I do it for exactly the same reasons. :)

because it's the way Jews live. And I want to continue to be a part of them. It's my people it's my way.

sending my kids to the army, working here, breathing the Air of the Holy Land is quite enough in terms of belonging. Still, do as you please as long as it is 100% voluntary (and believe me it is only for the time being). Once our ''holy'' brothers&sisters from Mea Shearim get their hands on the real power in this country you'll HAVE to fast and smile at the same time!

A wonderful article describing a new and personal perspective. Thank you! Shana Tova, Tsom Kal.

The last, to be prepared, I loved it. Tzom Kal. Jatima Tova. Shana Tova. I'll drive to be with the family ......and fast.

What about those who just pay taxes. No miluim, no fasting, no IDF... do they belong here?

There are some who learn to change and some who think they are god, in the end you are just me, me, me.

...no matter how you try to rationalize it, because Yom kipur awakens in you the most profound part of your soul that is always attached and is really one with G-D. That is the main meaning of Yom kippur. We connect at a level that is higher than rationale, actually rational would limit The connection is higher than limitations,even the limitations and separations that we create with our sins. He is our father that loves us the way we are as you love your children the way they are even when they don't live up to our expectations. Don't try to rationalize it anymore, it is an essential connectio, experience it and nurture it during the rest of the year by applying in into concrete things. Do mitzvot and cherish the closeness. Gmar chatima tova. G-d is real and your soal really feels it.

If he was fasting for health reasons !!why choose yom kippur for the fast ??Fast one day a week for health. You are a liar as you do believe in ghosts(god )

Mr. Shavit wants to prove to us and persuade that he is totaly secular. But it seems he is stil a Jew and he still has a "yidishe pipik". He still has some hidden spark that fails to be extinguished and it gets awaken on the holy day of Yom Kipur. He almost wants to be part of the Jewish Nation. Unfortunately there are some that even this is too much for them, like Kaniuk. It was important for him to be sure that before he dies , he becomes totally separated from the Jewish Nation. We find that in the old days of Moses there was a goy called Bilam , who was hired to curse the Jews since he was a prophet. He knew the truth , however , looks like anti semitism started long ago. even so, he carved to die as a Jew. Many people who live a "good" life with no restraints or consience, however before they die, try to make up for it and at least die as a Jew. So, some people try to make a "free" life at least with Yom Kipur. These people certainly have a chance and I welcome them and respect them as Jews. But the Kaniuks and similar ......what can I say more than, May God have pity on their souls.

My preference is for you to say how YOU feel, not play G-d and tell someone else (who you have never met and don't really know anyway) how HE/SHE feels. Thank you.

I was hoping for a whole lot more... Amos is wholeheartedly a believer and is giving you excuses of why he fasts. He says he has faith, definition of faith is;beliefs not based on proof. Clearly you must believe if you have faith. As a non-believer I was hoping to hear some amazing point that I could identify with. I've lived in Israel and can tell you the only good thing about Yom Kippur is riding my bike on the streets without crazy israeli drivers lane surfing.

Man it was hard...

As I returned from Kol Nidre I met a customer walking with her family(not dati)-she remarked how wonderful it was to have one night a year to walk in the street without cares together with her family.I told her she could have the same evening every week-it just depends on a decision from her

If you are looking for"an amazing point to identify with"go to aish.com-then you won't be disappointed

Like other opinion of the athiest who will not be fasting. Two Jews, three opinions!!!! Just chat with friends and get all the same points of view (and a few dozen beside) expressed. Do we need to read them in print?

Tzom has no meaning to me, but the Hebrew language, music, literature, the Israeli passport, all do have meanings. Of course I fast, whenever I feel like it, and I do not make a big deal out of my health-related choices. As to connecting, I really don't care for those who find meaning in religion. I am connected to all the other people and know our numbers are growing every day..