The Days of Awe

We just celebrated the High Holidays, including what is known as the “Day of forgiveness.” This day is believed to be the day that Moses descended from mount Sinai bearing the second set of tablets, following the Jewish nation’s penitential prayer and fasting over the sin of the Golden Calf.

It is a time of reflection, penitence and reconciliation.

According to the Sacks Koren Siddur, ET, p.294:

“I hereby forgive anyone who has angered or provoked me or sinned against me, physically or financially or by failing to give me due respect, or in any other matter relating to me, involuntarily or willingly, inadvertently or deliberately, whether in word or deed: let no one incur punishment because of me.”

We make Teshuvah by isolating any behavior in the past year that we would like not to repeat in the future. We start this process by naming factors that led to this behavior, then we seek to redirect our behavior. We also look for ways to repair relationships that we have strained through our actions. By realizing how we have disappointed others we participate in Teshuvah, one important aspect is acknowledging the power of our words and deeds, learning to change for the better. We should  acknowledge what mitzvoth we have neglected, if we have been self-righteous instead of self critical, as well as which destructive patterns and behaviors are persistent in our lives.

Judaism teaches that through repentance we avoid a harsh decree from G-d. What does that mean? That there are consequences for our actions and that teshuvah, tefillah, tzadakah create a yearning to turn from our transgressions.

In Sephardi communities, the recitation of selichot, a series of penitential prayers and liturgy, begins on Rosh Chodesh Elul. This commemorates the appearance of the new moon, which was first celebrated in Exodus 12:2 “This month shall be unto you the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you.” In the times of the Temple, the day began with the sound of the shofar, and special sacrifices were offered.

The selichot focus on the "Thirteen Attributes of God" (Exodus 34:5-7). The Talmud in Rosh Hashanah 17b describes G-d as appearing as a prayer leader in a tallit instructing Moshe Rabenu to tell the Children of Israel to recite the following to receive forgiveness:

Adonai: He is merciful (to one before he/she sins).
Adonai: He is merciful (to the sinner who repents).
Ayl: He is powerful.
Rachum: He is compassionate.
V'chanum: He grants even underserved favors.

Erech Apayim: He is slow to anger, allowing the sinner time to repent by not exacting immediate punishment.

V'rav Chesed: He abounds in lovingkindness and leniency.

V'emet: He abounds in truth and keeps His promises.

Notzer Chesed La'alafim: He maintains lovingkindness for thousands of generations.

Nosav Avon: He forgives sins that result from temptation.

Va'fesha: He forgives sins of rebellion against Him.

V'chata'ah: He forgives sins committed carelessly or unknowingly.

V'nakay: He completely forgives the sinner who returns to Him in sincere repentance.

(The Companion Guide to the Yom Kippur Prayer Service by Moshe Sorscher, printed by Judaica Press.)

I end this short introduction to the concepts and traditions for the "Days of Awe" (Yamim Noraim also known as Aseret Yemei Teshuva), with the lyrics of the modern version of the Avinu Malkenu song:

“Hear our prayer
We have sinned before Thee
Have compassion upon us and upon our children
Help us bring an end to pestilence, war, and famine
Cause all hate and oppression to vanish from the earth
Inscribe us for blessing in the Book Of Life.”