Human Interest
Why Bats Sleep Upside Down and The Secret of Yom Kippur
7 min read
4 min read
Five minutes of prayer said with understanding, feeling and emotion means far more than hours of lip-service.
Dear Rabbi,
I have a confession. Even if I can read some of the prayers on Rosh Hashanah, I still don't understand what I'm saying. To tell you the truth I'd rather take a quiet, reflective walk in the park this year on Rosh Hashanah than spend all those hours in synagogue saying a bunch of words that don't mean a whole lot to me anyway. (I'm not even a member anywhere). Do you have any suggestions?
Marc B.
Dear Marc,
I'm quite confident that your words echo the sentiments of many. The prayers are meant to be a powerful, relevant and meaningful experience. Sadly, our distance from the original Hebrew, coupled with a lengthy synagogue service, can be intimidating to say the least, and often a tremendous letdown for individuals seeking a spiritual experience. As a matter of fact, the majority of Jews don't even enter a synagogue over the course of the High Holidays!
I will offer a few words of advice that can perhaps alleviate your challenge and help get more from the service and the High Holidays.
By sitting in the synagogue (as opposed to the park), you join millions of Jews in synagogues around the world. By joining hands with fellow Jews you are making a powerful statement about your commitment to Judaism and your place in the Jewish people. The Midrash teaches that "there is no King without a Nation"; only when we join together, as a congregation of Jews to coronate the King on Rosh Hashanah, only then do we build a kingdom of Heaven on Earth.
If you're not a member of a synagogue and are looking for a comfortable place to pray which doesn't require much background, please visit NoMembershipRequired.com. Around the country there are "High Holiday Learner's Services." These interactive, explanatory services, held mostly in English, utilize a fresh, new approach – combining ongoing explanation, discussion and camaraderie with other bright, interested Jews who are seeking to add meaning and understanding to their High Holiday experience.
With best wishes for a healthy, meaningful and joyous Rosh Hashanah to you, with peace in Israel, and for all the Jewish people and the world.