How Do We Measure a Year? Reflections on S’lichot
09/16/2019 06:31:39 PM
by Cantor Jacob Niemi
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“How do we measure a year?” This question posed by Jonathan Larson in his signature musical Rent seeps into our consciousness, as we find ourselves in a transition between seasons, summer fading away into autumn. And for Jews, preparing for the upcoming Days of Awe, the question looms even more prominently.
In anticipation of the Jewish New Year, we will observe the service of S’lichot at Temple Beth El on Saturday, September 21, at 6:30 p.m. Our service will include stories from sacred texts, as well as inspirational liturgy, all intended to help direct our focus to the tasks of penitence and the spiritual work of the Days of Awe. We will also ceremonially change the covers on our Torah scrolls from the multicolor covers that they wear throughout the year to their white High Holy Day vestments.
In preparation for this powerful ritual, I offer some reflections on S’lichot, including two narratives from the Torah that illuminate its significance.
As we’re called upon to measure our days, to look inward, and to consider our relationships with one another and with the divine, it can be beneficial to have ways to mark time and to orient ourselves. Fortunately, our calendar is full of rituals and liturgy that function like signposts, helping to give us a sense of where we are in the year and guiding us through journeys of emotional and spiritual growth.
Some of these signposts are subtle, a change of words in a particular prayer in the liturgy, or a special Torah portion whose selection for that time of year may or may not immediately resonate with us. Others are intentionally jarring, stirring us out of complacency, preparing us for the spiritual work that the upcoming cycle will demand of us (perhaps the best example of this is the sounding of the shofar).
In this time leading up to the Days of Awe, all these signs, whether subtle or striking, become explicit and tangible in the observance of S’lichot. The shofar is sounded once more, the Torah vestments are changed to white, and the liturgy introduces themes that will recur throughout the holiday season, even containing text that will return on Yom Kippur.
But what are these themes? What exactly is the message that the composers of the S’lichot liturgy hoped would carry throughout the days that follow?
To answer this, at least in part, we can start by looking at two biblical narratives that form a theological bedrock for the S’lichot and High Holy Day liturgy, each recounting an instance in which the Israelites sinned against God, faced punishment, repented, and were ultimately forgiven. The first of these is perhaps among the most famous sins in the Torah, the sin of the golden calf.
Many are familiar with the first part of this story. Frustrated with the amount of time that Moses had spent up on Mount Sinai, supposedly receiving the commandments from God, the Israelites began to worry that Moses might not ever return. They insisted that Aaron, Moses’s brother, make them a new god. And so, they gathered up all their gold, melted it down, and fashioned it into the form of a calf, which they then began to worship.
But rather than focus on the punishment they received for this sin, I want to direct our attention to what happened after they repented, and after Moses interceded on their behalf. Moses pleaded to be able to behold God’s presence. But, according to God, one cannot see God’s face and live. So, God instructed Moses to stand in the cleft of a rock, where God would pass before him, so that Moses could see God’s back:
The Eternal came down in a cloud; He stood with him there, and proclaimed the name Eternal. The Eternal passed before him and proclaimed: “The Eternal! The Eternal! A God gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness and faithfulness, extending lovingkindness to the thousandth generation, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin; yet He does not remit all punishment, but visits the iniquity of parents upon children and children’s children, upon the third and fourth generations.” (Exodus 34:5-7; source pronouns retained intentionally)
One might notice ambiguity in the pronouns in this passage. Who is standing with whom? Before whom is the Eternal passing? The rabbinic sages of the Talmud noted this ambiguity and offered the following interpretation:
The verse states: “The Eternal passed before him and proclaimed” (Exodus 34:6). Rabbi Yochanan said: Were it not written in the verse, it would be impossible to say this. The verse teaches that the Holy One, Blessed be He, wrapped Himself (lit. “passed before himself”) like a prayer leader (i.e. with a prayer shawl) and showed Moses an order of prayer. He said to him: Whenever the Jewish people sin, let them act before Me in accordance with this order, and I will forgive them. (Babylonian Talmud, Rosh Hashanah 17b)
This “order of prayer” that Rabbi Yochanan mentions is what has become our liturgy of S’lichot, a liturgy that is built around those very attributes that God proclaimed. Our sages have come to refer to these as the Thirteen Attributes of God’s Mercy: “(1) The Eternal! (2) The Eternal! (3) A God (4) gracious (5) and compassionate, (6) slow to anger, (7) abounding in lovingkindness (8) and [abounding in] faithfulness (9) extending lovingkindness to the thousandth generation (10) forgiving iniquity, (11) [forgiving] transgression, (12) and [forgiving] sin,” and (13) remitting punishment (note that this last attribute changes the biblical text, which is an interesting conversation for another time).
Another name for the service of S’lichot is actually Seder B’rit Sh’losh Esrei, “The Order of the Covenant of Thirteen.” And this is the covenant, as laid out in that Talmudic text, that whenever we sin, whenever we miss the mark with our actions, or with the ways in which we relate to one another and to God, we can recall these attributes of compassion and mercy.
We can remind ourselves that God is gracious and compassionate, and that we are all called upon to strive to be gracious and compassionate as well. And knowing this, we can remind ourselves that the work of sincere repentance is both worthy and worthwhile.
The second passage that informs the theology of S’lichot comes from the book of Numbers. It recounts what is sometimes referred to as “the sin of the twelve spies.” Without going into detail (join us in our S’lichot worship at Temple Beth El to hear the full story), the most outstanding moment occurs when Moses shows a bit of chutzpah, reminding God of the attributes God had previously proclaimed. God then responds by saying, “I forgive, as you have said” (Numbers 14:20).
As we enter this season of the Days of Awe, let us do so with gracious chutzpah, with an expectation of lovingkindness from God to us, from one another, and from ourselves.
April 26, 2024
18 Nisan 5784
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MayMay 5 , 2024Judaica Shop Open
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MayMay 12 , 2024Adult B'nai Mitzvah Hebrew Class
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MayMay 22 , 2024Environment and Climate Change Action Team Meeting
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Thursday ,
MayMay 23 , 2024Niftach Libeinu (“Let Us Open Our Hearts”): Exploring New Possibilities for Prayer and Ritual
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Sunday ,
MayMay 26 , 2024Adult B'nai Mitzvah Hebrew Class
Sunday, May 26th 10:30 am to 11:30 am
This is an introductory Hebrew class for students who are a part of the adult b'nai mitzvah cohort. -
Monday ,
MayMay 27 , 2024Office Closed for Memorial Day
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Sunday ,
JunJune 2 , 2024Chevra Kadisha: Ordinary People Doing Holy Work (Volunteer Opportunity!)
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Sunday ,
JunJune 2 , 2024Adult B'nai Mitzvah Hebrew Class
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This is an introductory Hebrew class for students who are a part of the adult b'nai mitzvah cohort. -
Sunday ,
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Sunday ,
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Thursday ,
JunJune 6 , 2024House Committee Meeting
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Thursday ,
JunJune 6 , 2024Social Action Committee Meeting
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Sunday ,
JunJune 9 , 2024Conversion Student Meetup
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Sunday ,
JunJune 9 , 2024Adult B'nai Mitzvah Hebrew Class
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Thursday ,
JunJune 13 , 2024Jewish Social Services Memory Cafe
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Sunday ,
JunJune 16 , 2024Beth El Bakers
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Sunday ,
JunJune 16 , 2024Cancer Support Group
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Monday ,
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Tuesday ,
JunJune 18 , 2024Serve Supper at the Catholic Multicultural Center
Tuesday, Jun 18th 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm
As the Catholic Multicultural Center resumes daily in-person dinners, join fellow TBE volunteers on the third Tuesday of each month to help serve dinner and clean up. -
Tuesday ,
JunJune 18 , 2024Board Meeting
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Wednesday ,
JunJune 19 , 2024Kesher Israel Film: "Aviva, My Love"
Wednesday, Jun 19th 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm
The film "Aviva, My Love" asks: How is an Israeli woman to fulfill her own ambitions? -
Thursday ,
JunJune 20 , 2024“Why? Because Israel Matters”: Community Update from Rabbi Biatch’s Sabbatical in Israel
Thursday, Jun 20th 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Come and share with Rabbi Jonathan Biatch what he learned, experienced, saw, and engaged in while in Israel during his recent sabbatical. -
Tuesday ,
JunJune 25 , 2024Religious Practices Committee meeting
Tuesday, Jun 25th 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm
Religious Practices Committee meeting (RPC) -
Wednesday ,
JunJune 26 , 2024Environment and Climate Change Action Team Meeting
Wednesday, Jun 26th 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
August 23, 2023 meeting is canceled. Join our action team as we make plans to engage the congregation in activities that raise awareness about environmental issues. -
Thursday ,
JunJune 27 , 2024Music Committee Meeting
Thursday, Jun 27th 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm
For more information on the Music Committee, contact Cantor Jacob Niemi. -
Thursday ,
JunJune 27 , 2024Kesher Israel Committee Meeting
Thursday, Jun 27th 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Kesher Israel Committee meets every six weeks on Zoom. -
Thursday ,
JulJuly 4 , 2024TBE Office Closed for Independence Day
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-
Thursday ,
JulJuly 4 , 2024House Committee Meeting
Thursday, Jul 4th 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm
-
Thursday ,
JulJuly 4 , 2024Social Action Committee Meeting
Thursday, Jul 4th 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Social Action Committee meetings are held at 7:00 pm on the first Thursday of most months at Temple Beth El. -
Sunday ,
JulJuly 7 , 2024Support Group for Those Whose Lives Have Been Touched by Mental Health Issues
Sunday, Jul 7th 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm
-
Thursday ,
JulJuly 11 , 2024Board Meeting
Thursday, Jul 11th 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm
-
Tuesday ,
JulJuly 16 , 2024Serve Supper at the Catholic Multicultural Center
Tuesday, Jul 16th 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm
As the Catholic Multicultural Center resumes daily in-person dinners, join fellow TBE volunteers on the third Tuesday of each month to help serve dinner and clean up. -
Sunday ,
JulJuly 21 , 2024Bike Ride to Save the Environment
Sunday, Jul 21st 9:00 am to 11:00 am
Join us for the annual bike ride sponsored by the Environment and Climate Change Action Team. -
Sunday ,
JulJuly 21 , 2024Cancer Support Group
Sunday, Jul 21st 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm
-
Tuesday ,
JulJuly 23 , 2024Religious Practices Committee meeting
Tuesday, Jul 23rd 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm
Religious Practices Committee meeting (RPC) -
Wednesday ,
JulJuly 24 , 2024Environment and Climate Change Action Team Meeting
Wednesday, Jul 24th 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
August 23, 2023 meeting is canceled. Join our action team as we make plans to engage the congregation in activities that raise awareness about environmental issues. -
Thursday ,
JulJuly 25 , 2024Music Committee Meeting
Thursday, Jul 25th 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm
For more information on the Music Committee, contact Cantor Jacob Niemi. -
Thursday ,
AugAugust 1 , 2024House Committee Meeting
Thursday, Aug 1st 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm
-
Thursday ,
AugAugust 1 , 2024Social Action Committee Meeting
Thursday, Aug 1st 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Social Action Committee meetings are held at 7:00 pm on the first Thursday of most months at Temple Beth El. -
Sunday ,
AugAugust 4 , 2024Beth El Bakers
Sunday, Aug 4th 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Join the Beth El Bakers for Sunday sessions where we will create community while baking delicious treats to share with the congregation at upcoming Temple Beth El events. -
Tuesday ,
AugAugust 13 , 2024Board Meeting
Tuesday, Aug 13th 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm
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Tuesday ,
AugAugust 20 , 2024Serve Supper at the Catholic Multicultural Center
Tuesday, Aug 20th 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm
As the Catholic Multicultural Center resumes daily in-person dinners, join fellow TBE volunteers on the third Tuesday of each month to help serve dinner and clean up. -
Thursday ,
AugAugust 22 , 2024Music Committee Meeting
Thursday, Aug 22nd 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm
For more information on the Music Committee, contact Cantor Jacob Niemi. -
Tuesday ,
AugAugust 27 , 2024Religious Practices Committee meeting
Tuesday, Aug 27th 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm
Religious Practices Committee meeting (RPC) -
Monday ,
SepSeptember 2 , 2024Office Closed for Labor Day
Monday, Sep 2nd (All day)
-
Thursday ,
SepSeptember 5 , 2024House Committee Meeting
Thursday, Sep 5th 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm
-
Thursday ,
SepSeptember 5 , 2024Social Action Committee Meeting
Thursday, Sep 5th 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Social Action Committee meetings are held at 7:00 pm on the first Thursday of most months at Temple Beth El. -
Tuesday ,
SepSeptember 10 , 2024Board Meeting
Tuesday, Sep 10th 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm
-
Tuesday ,
SepSeptember 17 , 2024Serve Supper at the Catholic Multicultural Center
Tuesday, Sep 17th 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm
As the Catholic Multicultural Center resumes daily in-person dinners, join fellow TBE volunteers on the third Tuesday of each month to help serve dinner and clean up. -
Tuesday ,
SepSeptember 24 , 2024Religious Practices Committee meeting
Tuesday, Sep 24th 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm
Religious Practices Committee meeting (RPC) -
Wednesday ,
OctOctober 2 , 2024Office Closes at 2:00 pm for Erev Rosh Hashanah
Wednesday, Oct 2nd 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
-
Thursday ,
OctOctober 3 , 2024Office Closed for Rosh Hashanah
Thursday, Oct 3rd (All day)
-
Thursday ,
OctOctober 3 , 2024House Committee Meeting
Thursday, Oct 3rd 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm
-
Thursday ,
OctOctober 3 , 2024Social Action Committee Meeting
Thursday, Oct 3rd 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Social Action Committee meetings are held at 7:00 pm on the first Thursday of most months at Temple Beth El. -
Tuesday ,
OctOctober 8 , 2024Board Meeting
Tuesday, Oct 8th 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm
-
Friday ,
OctOctober 11 , 2024Office Closes at 2:00 pm for Erev Yom Kippur
Friday, Oct 11th 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
-
Tuesday ,
OctOctober 15 , 2024Serve Supper at the Catholic Multicultural Center
Tuesday, Oct 15th 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm
As the Catholic Multicultural Center resumes daily in-person dinners, join fellow TBE volunteers on the third Tuesday of each month to help serve dinner and clean up. -
Wednesday ,
OctOctober 16 , 2024Office Closes at 2:00 pm for Erev Sukkot
Wednesday, Oct 16th 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
-
Thursday ,
OctOctober 17 , 2024Office Closed for Sukkot
Thursday, Oct 17th (All day)
-
Tuesday ,
OctOctober 22 , 2024Religious Practices Committee meeting
Tuesday, Oct 22nd 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm
Religious Practices Committee meeting (RPC) -
Wednesday ,
OctOctober 23 , 2024Office Closes at 2:00 pm for Erev Simchat Torah
Wednesday, Oct 23rd 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
-
Thursday ,
NovNovember 7 , 2024House Committee Meeting
Thursday, Nov 7th 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm
-
Thursday ,
NovNovember 7 , 2024Social Action Committee Meeting
Thursday, Nov 7th 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Social Action Committee meetings are held at 7:00 pm on the first Thursday of most months at Temple Beth El.