I especially enjoyed writing them, because, as weird as it sounds, Yom Kippur is my favorite day of the year. It's a great feeling to know that you get a new chance, and I love that time that I can spend with things that really matter on this day.
The fast is hard, yes. Of course many many of the people around me will be spending the whole fast talking about the food they'll have to break their fast. It's not really an issue in my home: we feed the kids and then just don't talk about food beyond that, It doesn't mean that we don't think about it, either...
Soon I'm off to Kol Nidre. Everyone, have an easy fast!
G-d of awe G-d of might Grant us pardon in this hour As Your gates are closed this night.
Today is Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Today is probably the most widely observed and holiest Jewish holiday, and, therefore, this is a scheduled post. While I do not spend the whole day at the synagoge like many do, my family strictly observes both the fast and the mitzvot, or commandments associated with Yom Kippur.
Pouring out our soul we pray That the sentence You will write Shall be one of pardoned sin As Your gates are closed this night
Yom Kippur is probably my absolute favorite holiday. It is the Day of Atonement and this day gives us a yearly chance to make up with HaShem and with our fellow man and start again, clean.
Our refuge strong and sure Rescue us from dreadful plight Seal our destiny for joy As Your gates are closed this night
The piyut (hymn) in this post is a traditional Sephardic piyut sung on Yom Kippur. We (as in both my family and the synagogue I attend) are Ashkenazi Jews, so this piyut is not part of our Yom Kippur services, but it is very close to my heart. Please take the cca. 4 minutes to listen to it while you read the words.
G-d of awe
G-d of might
Grant us pardon in this hour
As Your gates are closed this night
We, who are few in merits,
Raise our eyes to Heaven’s height
Trembling fearful in our prayer
As Your gates are closed this night
Pouring out our soul we pray
That the sentence You will write
Shall be one of pardoned sin
As Your gates are closed this night
Our refuge strong and sure
Rescue us from dreadful plight
Seal our destiny for joy
As Your gates are closed this night
Grant us favour, show us grace,
But those who deny our right
And oppress, be You the judge
As Your gates are closed this night
Generations of our sires
Strong in faith walked in Your light.
As of old, renew our days.
As Your gates are closed this night
Gather Judah’s scattered flock,
Unto Zion’s rebuilt site
Bless this year with grace divine
As Your gates are closed this night
May we all, both old and young,
Look for gladness and delight
In the many years to come
As Your gates are closed this night
Michael, prince of Israel,
Gabriel, your angels bright
With Elijah, come, redeem,
As Your gates are closed this night
G-d of awe
G-d of might
Grant us pardon in this hour
As Your gates are closed this night
I always loved this song. I didn't get to go to the concert this time, but some of my siblings and Kevin did go. I also missed the concert in Budapest last time, alas. But I do hope to see Mr Cohen at least one more time in concert.
It goes like this The fourth, the fifth The minor fall, the major lift The baffled king composing Hallelujah
A song about... well, not about religion. It is a lot more about human life, about love, intimacy, disappointment, heartbreak, and... for me, at least, man's struggle with the divine.
And even thoughIt all went wrongI'll stand before the Lord of SongWith nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah
Cohen.... He is more than "just" a singer song writer. He is a poet, a novelist. He is thought inspiring and yes, he is the genius behing Hallelujah. Jeff Buckley and Rufus Wrainwright and Alexandra Burke all did their magic with the song, but it was, it is Leonard Cohen, who created it.
As I listen to this song I remember the fraility of man. There was Samson, a mighty and powerful man, who fell when he revealed his secret to the woman he loved. And there was David, a king of Israel, anointed by G-d's prophet, and yet, he failed miserably when he let his desires lead him. When G-d's chosen men fail and sin, what can I, the ever doubting simple man expect? I fall short every day, and as hard as I try, there will be always something.
Yom Kippur is a day when we have a chance to ammend our ways. Not only with G-d, but with our fellow men as well.
Erev Yom Kippur just began as the sun set. Tonight and tomorrow we celebrate the upcoming Day of Atonement with two festive meals. We give to charity and ask for foregiveness and forgive others, going into Yom Kippur when we fast and pray, pray and pray.
I love Yom Kippur. It makes me clean again and again as I am forgiven as I forgive. As I sit here, listening to Leonard Cohen, I am examining my own soul and asking the forgiveness of all I offended this year.
I watch my sons sleeping, exhausted after a busy Shabbat and I reflect upon the wonders of Yom Kippur. I make plans for their meals and dig out the black canvas shoes, praying they still fit, and make sure the radio will remain turned on - just in case - and I remembre to say a prayer for all those who were fighting thirty-six years ago on Yom Kippur.
