During Elul, a month of preparation before the coming High Holy Days, we hear the call of the Shofar as a reminder: awaken! We hope this Shofar Blast of weekly messages from the clergy will help your Elul preparations.
Dear Congregation Beth Ahabah,
On both Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur the Unetaneh Tokef (“We shall ascribe holiness to this day”) is chanted. Although there are popular legends concerning the origin of this piyyut (liturgical poem), we do not know who wrote it. What is certain is that the poet was extremely gifted.
In Unetaneh Tokef, however, the subject is not the final judgment but the much more immediate, yearly day of judgment — Rosh Hashanah.
We shall ascribe holiness to this day. For it is awesome and full of dread... In truth You are the Judge, Arbiter, the All‑Knowing Witness… You inscribe and seal, remembering all that is forgotten… The great shofar is sounded, a still small voice is heard… The angels are dismayed, they are seized by fear and trembling… Decreeing the length of our days, Inscribing our judgment… On Rosh Hashanah it is inscribed, And on Yom Kippur it is sealed. How many shall pass away and how many shall be born, Who shall live and who shall die… But repentance, prayer and righteousness can avert the severe decree.
Many consider this poem to be the pinnacle of our liturgy. The poet’s primary concern is with the Mishnah’s description of the 1st of Tishrei (Rosh Hashanah) as the day when humanity is judged and the 10th of Tishrei as when that Judgment is made final. While listing all of the ways people can and will perish (fire, water, stoning, etc.) it is not the prayers intention, however, to induce a fatalistic resignation that we will all die and be judged for our action and that there is nothing we can do about it. Rather, the intention of the Unetaneh Tokef is the opposite, it serves to deny that our lives are subject to an unalterable fate. It is the ultimate second chance! Even after we have been judged—that is, really become aware of our failings and wrong doings—we have 10 days to at least start to turn it around. For the Unetaneh Tokef, in fact, reaches its climax when it assures us that it is within each of our powers to annul an evil decree, to reopen the future, and to reclaim the initiative it gives. The quantity of our lives is in the hands of God, the quality of our lives however is in our hands only. Because Judaism believes in free will, while everything might be foreseen, freedom of choice and change is granted to us all. The Unetaneh Tokef affirms that humanity can change the future by changing ourselves.
Anyone can redeem themselves by taking the initial step of repentance towards the reclamation of our worth and dignity as a moral being created in the image of God. That is quite an important expression to hear at least two times a year. We all could use a second chance, especially at times when we thought it might be too late. We are told clearly it really is never too late to make things right.
What do you need a second chance with?
What changes in your life and your world can start with you?
How do you recognize the Godliness within yourself? When and how do you see Godliness in others?
What will you do with your freedom of choice and change in this new year?
Wishing you all a happy and meaningful continued preparation in this holy month of Elul,
Rabbi Scott Nagel The Sophia and Nathan Gumenick Senior Rabbi Congregation Beth Ahabah
