Dear Friends,
Shabbat Shalom! Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and the days in-between are known as the
Ten Days of Repentance
. They’re intended to be used for reflection: Who have we offended? To whom should we apologize?
Of course, we’ll focus on this theme intensely on Yom Kippur itself, but there’s no need to wait until then to apologize. Take a look at this lovely
video
, produced by the Masorti/Conservative movement in Israel. It includes the singing of a simple, alphabetical acrostic medieval
piyyut
(liturgical poem) entitled, “Adon Ha-Selichot” or “Lord of Forgiveness.”
You can access the words
here
.
In the background of this video, you’ll see a young woman, presumably inspired by the spirit of the season, making use of this time to write letters of apology to her friends. It’s a not-so-subtle hint for all of us.
By the way, tomorrow is
Shabbat Shuva
, the Shabbat of Return/Repentance. In shul, in some ways, it will feel like Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur. We’ll include several High Holiday insertions in our prayers and recite a special
haftarah
for the occasion. Also, we’ll sing “Adon Ha-Selichot”—so it would be nice to go over it ahead of time.
And then, in only three days, we’ll welcome
Yom Kippur
on Tuesday evening with the
Kol Nidre
prayer. Let me make a suggestion: Take some time to prepare for Yom Kippur. Take a peek at this helpful
guide
, which includes ten steps to preparing for a meaningful Yom Kippur. Come to the shul for my adult ed program on Sunday morning at 11:00 am (note new time), when we’ll try to unpack the elaborate Yom Kippur liturgy (in only one hour!).
I hope that this has been, and will continue to be, a meaningful High Holiday season for you and your family. With all the uncertainty and tumult in the world, it’s helpful to take a step back, remind ourselves of our core principles, and think of ways we can do better to live by them.
Shanah Tovah u’Metukah:
Let me wish all of us a good and a sweet year!
Sincerely,
Rabbi Carl M. Perkins
