Opening/Malchuyot
There are distinct sounds that tell us the High Holy Days are upon us. The call of the shofar and the melodies of the season are meant to spiritually awaken and inspire. This evening’s program is structured around the heart of our Rosh Hashanah liturgy, the three sections of the Musaf service: Malchuyot, Zichronot, and Shofarot. Each section embodies themes of this season.
The first portion is called Malchuyot, derived from the word, melech, meaning king. Malchuyot speaks to God’s majesty and mysterious nature. The encroaching Days of Awe require us to examine various complex aspects of our relationship with the Holy One. We are inspired by God the Creator of our world. We are humbled and awestruck before Avinu Malkeinu- God our parent, our ruler. We may question the designs of God, the architect. We ask if there are any blueprints at all?
Zichronot
Our High Holy Day liturgy indicates that God either remembers us to be inscribed into the book of life, or decides that we won’t live to see the year thereafter. My personal theology rejects this notion. I believe our liturgists brilliantly crafted the most disturbing picture they could muster in order to purposely disturb us. We are shaken to our core once a year- like an etch-a sketch for the conscious. I choose to understand this troubling liturgy as a reminder of the fragility of life. May we remember to live our lives as if we are writing our legacy each day. May we use this time of reflection to gain perspective, to see nuances, and to find empathy for others as we work to understand both sides of any given situation. May the hard work of chesbon nefesh- taking stock of our souls and t’shuvah, returning to the best versions of ourselves allow us to let go of what no longer serves us and leave what’s heavy behind us.
Shofarot
Shofarot- Revelation. This section of liturgy refers to the future of our peoplehood. In Torah, God is revealed to Moses on Mount Sinai. After this interaction we never hear of God appearing in the same way ever again. Rather than viewing revelation at Sinai as the end of our direct communication with God, our scholars interpret this episode as the beginning of a new kind of relationship with God’s that requires revelation take place through each of us. Torah declares “lo bashamayim hi law is not in heaven but rather here on earth.” The blowing of the Shofar is a call to action. We are tasked to do God’s work here on earth among one another. If not now, when? May are souls be awakened to what is just, what is kind, what is loving and compassionate in the year to come.
A high holiday program offered at Temple Beth Tikvah.
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