Thoughts & Teachings
Jill Max
I love September. The rituals of return: to routine, to school, to preparation, to teaching and to learning. Last September was the first time in eleven years that I did not return to the classroom. The absence of this familiar ritual affected me profoundly. The start of school and the promise and possibilities of the New Year were inextricably connected for me. My opening lessons often centered around the customs of preparing for the Jewish new year. Making resolutions, purging sins and bad habits, cleansing the slate and asking forgiveness were all common themes. Each was easily incorporated into the secular routines of the new school year.
The Unetaneh Tokef prayer has always been the most meaningful and powerful piece of my High Holy Day worship. Its words and repetition remind me to be fully present during the Days of Awe. They inspire me to actively and honestly repent, but more importantly, to ask those whom I have wronged for their forgiveness, which is not an easy task. They encourage me to be proactive, and they give me hope. This may seem unremarkable to most people, but for me, this is often the only time during this period when I feel genuinely engaged in religious ritual. I am not a religious person, but for some reason, the power of this particular prayer moves me to action. Additionally, perhaps because of its concrete nature, the tradition of Tashlikh has become one of my favorite annual rituals. I find the communal act of walking to the nearby stream and physically casting out our individual and collective sins extremely gratifying.
Religious practice is not at the core of what makes me a committed Jew. My commitment to Jewish learning, teaching, reading, leading, community and Israel comprise that core. My family and friends embody the heart and soul. The High Holy Days remind me that repentance is necessary and forgiveness is possible. Life is sacred and we are all vulnerable.
G’mar Hatimah Tovah.
