Each year, we say the following prayer in the Musaf section of services:  

“Let us tell how utterly holy this day is and how awe-inspiring. It is the day when thy domain shall be exalted, the throne shall be established on mercy, and thou shalt occupy it in truth. True it is that thou art judge and arbiter, discerner and witness, inscribing and recording all forgotten things. Thou openest the book of records and it reads itself; every man’s signature is contained in it.

The great shofar is sounded; a gentle whisper is heard; the angels, quaking with fear, declare: “The Day of Judgment is here to bring the hosts of Heaven to justice!” Indeed, even they are not guiltless in thy sight. All mankind passes before thee like a flock of sheep. As a shepherd seeks out his flock, making his sheep pass under his rod, so dost thou make all the living souls pass before thee; thou dost count and number the creatures, fixing their lifetime and inscribing their destiny.”

Questions to consider:

•    How are the days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur awe-inspiring? Do you feel this awe?
•    Select a phrase (or several!) from the above paragraphs that is (are) especially difficult to digest. Why is it (are they) difficult? How do you think our reactions to the text differ from our ancestors’?
•    Do you relate to the sheep and shepherd metaphor? If yes, why? If no, what is a different metaphor that would be meaningful to modern audiences?

The prayer continues:

“On Rosh Hashanah it [their destiny] is written, and on Yom Kippur it is sealed. How many shall pass away and how many shall be brought into existence, who shall live and who shall die, who shall come to a timely end and who to an untimely end, who shall perish 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 plague, who by strangling and who by stoning, who shall be at ease and who shall be molested, who shall have comfort and who shall be tormented, who shall become poor and who shall become rich, who shall be lowered and who shall be raised.

But repentance (teshuvah), prayer (tefilah), and charity (tzedakah) lessen the severity of the decree.”

Questions to Consider:

Compiled by Shira Wallach

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