Today I got the heartbreaking privilege of getting to bring a prayer book to a Jew who will be spending Yom Kippur locked in jail.
I hope I never have to do that again. Not because I mind visiting someone, but because I hope that this year, and every year from here on, we can all be in a state
of freedom. Light. Joy. Alignment. Goodness. Peace.
In a way, we are all incarcerated. Incarcerated by our urges, our habits, our negative actions, our past, the things we keep doing even when we want to do something
different. Yom Kippur is the get-out-of-jail-free card. Not to escape responsibility for what we did, but to stop being imprisoned by it. Free to choose to take the next step in the right direction. It's the start of a journey that begins with the first step.
Every action we take creates the person we become. (Even your algorithm knows this. Watch one video on social media and suddenly your phone is feeding you ten more just like
it!) What we do directly leads to what we do next. One step in the right direction can take us on a potentially infinite journey in that good direction.*
This year, choose the direction of one mitzvah. One step.
Give one dollar to charity. And then give another the next day. And every day, for the whole year.You'll find yourself changed. Now you are a generous person. Someone
who gives.
Reach out to someone once. Then do it again another day. You'll find you became a more empathetic person. Someone who cares.
Watch how each action leads to another, and another, and another. Each act creates the person we are becoming and the person we truly are: infinite light and goodness.
Please take this email as a personal message.
As a person who engages with a lot of you often, I want to take this opportunity, on behalf of myself, my family, and Mitzvah House, to say I'm sorry.
For the things I said when you needed to hear something different.
For the times I didn't say enough.
For reaching out too much.
Or for not reaching out when you needed it.
Thank you for allowing me to be part of your Jewish experience. It's an honor to get to do a mitzvah with you.
Wishing you a Yom Kippur that is meaningful and healing. And a year that is truly good and very, very sweet.
Light Yom Kippur candles in Dunwoody, GA today, Sunday, September 20th before 7:19 PM and the fast ends Monday, September
21st at 8:13 PM.
Gmar Chasima Tova!
Rabbi Zalmy Goldberg
* PS. The above message about starting on the right foot in the right direction is why right after Yom Kippur, we start with a mitzvah. We start building our sukkah!
Need a lulav and etrog or schach? Please reach out. We’d love to help you start the year with a mitzvah.
September 28th – October 2nd
Magician, pizza dinner in the sukkah & more coming to a neighborhood near you!
RSVP
Here
Thursday, October 1st | 6:30 PM
Grab a friend bring them to this BBQ in the Sukkah!
RSVP
Here
A joyful celebration in the sukkah.
RSVP for address
RSVP
Here
Need a Lulov & Etrog?
Email us to get yours!
We'll hook you up the a full set so your whole house can get shaking.
Buy
One!
This post is from the Mitzvah House email newsletter, first sent September 20, 2026. For current programs, see upcoming Mitzvah House events. Questions? Call 678.769.4833 or email Hello@MitzvahHouse.com.