Have a blessed Yom Kippur

Stan Dubinsky shared this today, saying:

For those observing Yom Kippur, may you have an easy fast and a meaningful day of prayer …

… along with links to this Leonard Cohen song.

I knew the song, but did not realize it was, according to Wikipedia, based on the Unetaneh Tokef, an 11th-century liturgical poem recited on… Yom Kippur.”

I thought that was a cool new thing to know, so I pass it on.

7 thoughts on “Have a blessed Yom Kippur”

  2. Brad Warthen Post author

    Here is the relevant portion of the original text that inspired the song, translated from the Hebrew:

    On Rosh Hashanah will be inscribed and on Yom Kippur will be sealed – how many will pass from the earth and how many will be created; who will live and who will die; who will die at his predestined time and who before his time; who by water and who by fire, who by sword, who by beast, who by famine, who by thirst, who by upheaval, who by plague, who by strangling, and who by stoning. Who will rest and who will wander, who will live in harmony and who will be harried, who will enjoy tranquility and who will suffer, who will be impoverished and who will be enriched, who will be degraded and who will be exalted. But Repentance, Prayer, and Charity avert the severe Decree!”

  3. Brad Warthen Post author

    After I posted this, I saw that Mayor Steve Benjamin had sent out a Yom Kippur message:

    September 13, 2013, Columbia, SC

    Dear ,

    This evening, at sunset, families across our community and around the world will come together to reflect on the year past, the good and the bad, and observe the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, with fast and forgiveness.

    Yet while Yom Kippur holds special reverence as the highest of Holy Days on the Jewish calendar, its message holds meaning for us all because, just as we are all fallible and seek forgiveness for our trespasses, we likewise must find it within ourselves to forgive those who trespass against us.

    And what is at the core of that forgiveness? It is Love.

    Not the Love found sweetly in pages of romantic poetry or on greeting cards, but Love overpowering echoed with King Solomon’s words in the Book of Proverbs, Love covers all transgressions.

    We are human and we make mistakes. We rush through our days too quickly and often forget to extend a kind hand to those we love and to those who are strangers. Nevertheless, we have each day the opportunity find forgiveness for ourselves and for each other, and in doing so start fresh and move forward as a better person. All we need to do is ask.

    So it is with that in mind, from our family to yours, we wish you an easy fast and a sweet New Year.

    L’shanah tovah!

    Steve Benjamin

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