Who Will Live And Who Will Die? A Troubling High Holiday Prayer Every Rosh Hashana we say the prayer
Who Will Live And Who Will Die? A Troubling High Holiday Prayer Every Rosh Hashana we say the prayer Unsaneh Tokef : “On Rosh Hashanah we’ll be inscribed and on Yom Kippur we’ll 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 Charityavert the evil Decree!” I’ve said this prayer many times in my life, but was never bothered by it until this year. Perhaps it’s because I never considered the meaning behind the words until a couple weeks ago when I saw a video which illustrated it very literally, showing a slew of people suffering like Unsaneh Tokef describes and then concluding with “Repentance, Prayer, and Charity avert the evil Decree.” The video then suggested that the viewer make changes in his life so that next year will be a better one. I immediately picked up the phone and started dialing the numbers of some of the rabbis I trust most. Read more: http://jewinthecity.com/2014/10/who-will-live-and-who-will-die-a-troubling-rosh-hashana-prayer/#ixzz3F74klUxQ -- source link
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