DAYS OF AWE

The 10 days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are referred to as the “Days of Awe” or most properly the time for reflection.

One of the ongoing themes of the Days of Awe is the concept that G-d has "books" that he writes our names in, writing down who will live and who will die, who will have a good life and who will have a bad life, for the next year. These books are written in on Rosh Hashanah, but our actions during the Days of Awe can alter G-d's decree. The actions that change the decree are "teshuva, tefilah and tzedakah," repentance, prayer, good deeds (usually, charity). These "books" are sealed on Yom Kippur. This concept of writing in books is the source of the common greeting during this time is "May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year." (Wikipedia).

On the High Holidays, we read a poem known by its first two words in Hebrew: Unetaneh Tokef—Let Us Cede Power. It was written about a thousand years ago by an unknown author in Northern Europe. Whether one comes to synagogue in order to hear it, or stays away in order not to, the poem epitomizes the High Holiday prayer services for many contemporary Jews. In particular, this compelling and troubling passage from the middle of the poem looms large:

On Rosh Hashanah it is written, and on Yom Kippur it is sealed.
How many will pass and how many will be created?
Who will live and who will die?
Who in their time, and who not their time?
Who by fire and who by water?
Who by sword and who by beast?
Who by hunger and who by thirst?
Who by earthquake and who by drowning?
Who by strangling and who by stoning?
Who will rest and who will wander?
Who will be safe and who will be torn?
Who will be calm and who will be tormented?
Who will become poor and who will get rich?
Who will be made humble and who will be raised u
 
But teshuvah and tefillah and tzedakah (return and prayer and righteous acts)
deflect the evil of the decree.

The era when Unetaneh Tokef was written was a precarious time for the Jews, full of massacres and forced conversions. The High Holiday liturgy is packed with poems written in this period. In the scheme of things, they are relatively new additions. After all, Jews were celebrating Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur for a long time before these poems existed. Unetaneh Tokef is not from the Bible and it’s not from the Talmud; it’s just one poem, written by one obscure author, and its imagery comes from one imagination. But, like it or not, that imagery has stuck. Why? Because Unetaneh Tokef gives voice to what we really experience as we contemplate the future.”

The overwhelming theme for the Days of Awe and Yom Kippur the day of repentance is the asking G*d for forgiveness of not only the sins we have done to others; but to forgive others for the sins they have committed against one’s self.

But this is not unique to Jewish thought, for instance in the Old Testament “Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.” (Proverbs -14:31) and the following from the New Testament;” 'I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me “(Mathew 25:40).

If one is truly religious or claims to be a dedicated follower of their faith perhaps they should remember and follow these biblical commands. If they do so they will surely be inscribed in the “book of life” for 5766.