Let's take a look at the text, Genesis 1:5

"It was evening, and it was morning, one day." Why is the term one day used, and not the seemingly more relevant first day?

The rabbis believed that this term implies that the day was intended to be separate and unique, and they believed that this day was Yom Kippur. Further, according to the Midrash, the term one day (Yom Echad) can be translated as: the day of the Only One, for when God was all alone, the Only One, He desired to rest His Presence in the worlds below. (B'reishit Rabba 83:10)

According to tradition, two other historical events took place on Yom Kippur: Moses came down from Mount Sinai carrying the second set of tablets, and the Kohen HaGadol, the High Priest, was permitted to enter the Holy of Holies, the only time anyone could enter into this holy space.

If God can forgive the Children of Israel, and permit Moses, to again reveal God's will to the people on Yom Kippur, surely we, too, can find it in our hearts to forgive those who have wronged us over the past year.

Provided someone has completed the process of t'shuva, a repentance and a return to improved behavior and attitude, it is our obligation, as difficult as it may be, to forgive those individuals whose actions have hurt us this past year. We can take our example from God, for the Talmud clearly states, "If an individual repents, God forgives him and the entire world." (Yoma 86b.)

May you have a meaningful fast.

L'shana Tova Oom'tooka to our entire kahal.