Tonight and tomorrow are Hoshana Rabba - the absolute last opportunity to repent this year as we each get our petek (note) sealing our final judgment.
Here's Yaakov Shwekey singing Amar Rabbi Akiva (Rabbi Akiva said). The words from the Gemara in Yoma and Rabbi Akiva says that Jews are lucky because we are purified before and by our Father in Heaven.
I am an Orthodox Jew - some would even call me 'ultra-Orthodox.' Born in Boston, I was a corporate and securities attorney in New York City for seven years before making aliya to Israel in 1991 (I don't look it but I really am that old :-). I have been happily married to the same woman for thirty-five years, and we have eight children (bli ayin hara) ranging in age from 13 to 33 years and nine grandchildren. Four of our children are married! Before I started blogging I was a heavy contributor on a number of email lists and ran an email list called the Matzav from 2000-2004. You can contact me at: IsraelMatzav at gmail dot com