(RNS) — Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, begins Wednesday evening (Oct. 1). And, maybe, they will consider how they can put down their lizard — which needs a little more explanation. She works with students online across the country and said the lizard passage can be helpful in thinking about why it can be so hard to fully atone. It’s actually an obstacle.”But before you can release the lizard, Halpern said you have to notice that you’re holding it. “Something that comes up over and over is figuring out what is a lizard and what isn’t a lizard,” Halpern said.