It’s about 2 in the morning, Sunday morning, Israeli time. I just returned home from the first night of selichos. Our synagogue has started a tradition of a musical first night of selichos. Saying the familiar liturgy combined with the niggunim from Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur and others turned out to be more moving than I anticipated. We usually think of selichos like tachanun and I wanted to be serious, but needing to sing and hum along with everyone else in the synagogue – well, it was hard not to get into a good and happy mood. Looking around at everyone singing together as a community, it was hard not to be filled with joy realizing that we are preparing for our annual accounting to the Creator of all. To realize that the awesome power that created a universe (and more) far beyond our comprehension gave us His guidebook – the Torah – and each year, like a caring parent, expectantly awaits our return to His ways so He can grant us His blessings, how can one not be overwhelmed by joy. As children are always seeking to know that their parents are constantly watching and aware of them, so too, deep inside, we are giddy with joy knowing that we too are always being watched over.