Finding Nemo... in the Bible

On the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, the story of "Jonah and the Fish" is read in synagogues around the globe.

Question: Why do we read this particular portion instead of something more famously epic like "Moses and the Golden Calf" or "Abraham and the Covenant"? These seem to be more suited for this holy day themed around prayer and forgiveness?

Answer: The story of Jonah is how a mortal man tried to run away from the mission his Creator had gifted to him. He was subsequently swallowed by an enormous fish which spit him out onto dry land only when he resolved to return to his true mission in life. AHA! Rather than talk about great and mighty perfect people, we choose to focus on a fallible human like us. Someone like us who may sometimes run away from our Godly purpose for living.

I bless us to think about what's "fishy" in our lives, focus on what's real and start running back to who we are!