struggling over Yom Tov

[cellio]

Today is the seventh day of Pesach. The Torah states quite clearly that this is a festival day (like the first). Yet here I am at work, just like last year and the year before and...

I don't know why I have so much trouble with this one. (And, correspondingly, the last day of Sukkot.) There is natural resistance -- it's another vacation day, and clumps of holidays disrupt work schedules already, and there's no real ritual associated with it (unlike the seder), and -- locally, at least -- there's basically no community encouragement for it outside the Orthodox subset. (Yes, everyone has holiday services, but the presumption that of course you're observing the holiday is absent.)

But the Torah tells us it is a festival and to "do no work", just like the others, and that ought to be sufficient. And every year I feel a little more guilty and become a little more aware that I am sinning.

Maybe next year I will finally overcome this. (Once I start, I will feel bound to do it every time -- no "just when it's convenient" observances here.)

Comments

[beaniekins.livejournal.com]

I came across this thread and just wanted to add my two cents. There are a couple reasons for not spelling out the word G-d. Aside from the biblical prohibitions against taking G-d's name in vain and erasing His name, it's just repsect. And another reason I've always found to be rather beautiful is that it's a small way of acknowledging that G-d is more than and above mere letters and words. Anyway. Sorry to disturb the conversation!

[cellio]

And another reason I've always found to be rather beautiful is that it's a small way of acknowledging that G-d is more than and above mere letters and words.

I like that interpretation. Thanks!