As we approached the High Holy Days and the anniversary of the October 7th massacres, our mailboxes filled up with appeals for Jewish relief charities and New Year messages from various communal leadership bodies. But very few refer to the ongoing war in Gaza, and we knew that in many synagogue services for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, little or nothing would be said about the catastrophe that has overtaken the people of Gaza.
Yom Kippur is about of forgiveness from and of sin, and about teshuvah—repentance—both personal and communal. But the words of the service were difficult to hear when we cannot name what forgiveness is needed for, and what we should be turning from. To provide perspective, and to prepare for Yom Kippur, PJJIP members led a short informal service at 8pm Tuesday 8th October, made up of prayers, poems, songs, personal declarations, and moments of silence.
Recording here:
These texts were used in the service:
- Excerpts from the Liberal Judaism Machzor Ruach Chadash Rosh Hashanah Morning Service and Yom Kippur Morning Service
- The Bedrock, by David Keys
- For Peace, read by Sue Lieberman
- Reflection on the Yom Kippur Additional Service, by Ellen Galford
- When It Happens To You, by Hannah Ehrlich
- Yom Kippur 5785, by Rabbi Elli Tikvah Sarah
- Prayer for Peace between Israelis and Palestinians, by Rabbi Elli Tikvah Sarah
- Meditation Before Kaddish, by Sue Bard