Politics of forgiveness a topic for Yom Kippur in Tampa Bay area

ST. PETERSBURG — Joseph Bensmihen, a Republican candidate for the Florida House of Representatives, managed to discover a spiritual moment during Sunday night's contentious presidential debate.

The recognition came in the context of Yom Kippur, the most sacred day of the Jewish calendar, which begins today at sundown and marks the culmination of a solemn 10-day period of introspection, renewal, repentance and forgiveness.

"I found it very fitting that the debate ended the way it did," said Bensmihen, noting that Hillary Clinton complimented Donald Trump on his children and Trump acknowledged her tenacity.

"That's a great message as you enter the day of forgiveness, of Yom Kippur," said Bensmihen, who attends Temple Beth-El and Congregation B'nai Israel in St. Petersburg.

But not everyone viewed the debate with the same eyes.

"This campaign has been nothing short of disgusting since early in the primaries. … At the debate this week, we had a candidate threaten to lock the other one up in jail. At that same debate, we witnessed an opportunity to say something nice about the other side and one couldn't conjure up anything other than complimenting the other's children," said Rabbi Josh Hearshen of Congregation Rodeph Sholom in Tampa.

"In the Jewish faith, we believe deeply in the value of words, because God created the world through words. … When looking at our candidates, we need to hold them accountable for the words they choose and never let them think they are just words."

For some rabbis, politics won't be discussed this Yom Kippur.

Rabbi Alter Korf of the Chabad Jewish Center of Greater St. Petersburg said the High Holidays, as the 10-day period is called, offer an opportunity to focus "on personal introspection and becoming better people."

"As such, the last thing we talk about is politics," he said. "When we use these High Holidays properly, we become empowered to make the right decisions, and I'm very sure that will follow through when it comes to making the decision during the elections."

Rabbi Michael Torop of Temple Beth-El plans to speak about "spiritual and emotional well-being, living up to who God wants us to be."

Ben Diamond, the Democrat running against Bensmihen for the state House District 68 seat, sits on Temple Beth-El's board. He said he hasn't been focused on the presidential campaign during the important High Holidays — also known as the Days of Awe — which began on the evening of Oct. 2 with Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year.

"This is a period of reflection, where we think of our responsibilities and atone for our sins and think about how we can do a better job of living up to our responsibilities in the year to come, in relation to our community, our neighbors — not so much the Donald Trump show," he said.

But politics is not something that can be easily avoided.

"It is becoming increasingly more contentious to discuss politics from the pulpit," said Rabbi Danielle Upbin of Congregation Beth Shalom in Clearwater.

"However, in these past few months, and in the months after the election, we are making a concerted effort to focus on words of reconciliation, peace and mutual respect."

Hearshen plans to speak to his congregation about the "very destructive force" he has labeled polarization.

"This country is made up of many people of very different viewpoints and things are made better by that and not worse. … We have leaders who are fighting with each other as we are fighting with each other," Hearshen said he'll tell his congregation.

"One of the texts that I'm teaching for Yom Kippur is that we learn in the Talmud that just as the faces of people do not exactly resemble one another, so, too, their opinions do not exactly resemble one another."

Upbin said there are lessons both candidates could learn from the High Holidays.

"We don't need to hold others to their misgivings,'' she said. "Let's focus on the task at hand. I would want the candidates to hear the message of letting go of what isn't necessary for your own personal thriving and reparation of the world."

Contact Waveney Ann Moore at wmoore@tampabay.com or (727) 892-2283. Follow @wmooretimes.