The keynote prayer of the Musaf Amidah on the High Holidays is Unataneh Tokef. Written according to tradition by Rabbi Amnon of Mayence on his deathbed, it depicts us standing in the heavenly court – awaiting judgment: who will live and who will die!? Over the years I/we have grappled with the fatalistic nature of the prayer. Is our physical fate really sealed by the past and our repentance process during the Days of Awe?
In the past I understood the prayer as a metaphor for consequential living. The past does impact the present and the future. The quality and the quantity of our lives are certainly determined by the choices we make: taking care of our selves, how we treat others, and our quest for intellectual and spiritual sustenance.
After 9/11 we spoke about how this prayer articulates for us all the things that are not in our control. What happens to us through nature and the actions of others (and maybe God) is not determined by us. We have the ability to accept, cope and heal from the pain and suffering which is found in our world – but we have little power over what actually happens to us. Only, our spiritual responses to life: repentance, prayer, righteousness - are in our control.
As I study this year for the holidays, I want to expand the metaphor of God sitting in judgment over us. I still find this theme powerful as a tool to personal transformation. Yet the idea of heavenly tribunal should not only be viewed in terms of “punishment.” A tribunal is also, often for moments of meaningful joy, such as a conversion.
This is an equally powerful image to one of justice and punishment. Conversion is a transformational moment. Filled with awe and love a person becomes a Jew-by-choice. This is true today in our time and place for all Jews – living Jewishly is a personal choice. The rituals of conversion are a moment filled with love for Jewish life and hope for a future filled with God’s presence. The Beit Din (Rabbinic Court) for a conversion is rite of welcome to community. Having completed the process of study and rituals of Jewish citizenship – the convert celebrates their new status and affirms their identity. The tears of someone who is named with his/her Jewish name as part of the ritual – are tears filled with joy and God’s love. Maybe that’s the feeling we should experience in synagogue during this High Holiday season. We stand as Jews by choice in front of God who welcomes us in love to share the joys of Jewish spirituality. I pray we will feel that Presence during the holy days and in the coming year.
In the past I understood the prayer as a metaphor for consequential living. The past does impact the present and the future. The quality and the quantity of our lives are certainly determined by the choices we make: taking care of our selves, how we treat others, and our quest for intellectual and spiritual sustenance.
After 9/11 we spoke about how this prayer articulates for us all the things that are not in our control. What happens to us through nature and the actions of others (and maybe God) is not determined by us. We have the ability to accept, cope and heal from the pain and suffering which is found in our world – but we have little power over what actually happens to us. Only, our spiritual responses to life: repentance, prayer, righteousness - are in our control.
As I study this year for the holidays, I want to expand the metaphor of God sitting in judgment over us. I still find this theme powerful as a tool to personal transformation. Yet the idea of heavenly tribunal should not only be viewed in terms of “punishment.” A tribunal is also, often for moments of meaningful joy, such as a conversion.
This is an equally powerful image to one of justice and punishment. Conversion is a transformational moment. Filled with awe and love a person becomes a Jew-by-choice. This is true today in our time and place for all Jews – living Jewishly is a personal choice. The rituals of conversion are a moment filled with love for Jewish life and hope for a future filled with God’s presence. The Beit Din (Rabbinic Court) for a conversion is rite of welcome to community. Having completed the process of study and rituals of Jewish citizenship – the convert celebrates their new status and affirms their identity. The tears of someone who is named with his/her Jewish name as part of the ritual – are tears filled with joy and God’s love. Maybe that’s the feeling we should experience in synagogue during this High Holiday season. We stand as Jews by choice in front of God who welcomes us in love to share the joys of Jewish spirituality. I pray we will feel that Presence during the holy days and in the coming year.
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