Yom Kippur, the Jewish fast-day of repentance, begins at sundown on Friday (Oct. 7), and some Jews are preparing with ... chickens? The Kaparot rit...

Our tradition tells us: "For transgressions between one person and another, Yom Kippur does not serve as atonement, until the one offended has been appeased."

Repentance and forgiveness are powerful conscious processes that bring growth and lasting healing. That is why for Jews the holiest days of the year are those when we commit our lives to these processes.

In looking at the continued imprisonment and mistreatment of people who have not been convicted of or tried for a crime, I think that the Jewish notion of personal responsibility and teshuvah is not being followed.