It is said that Nobel Prize-winning author Shmuel Yoseph Agnon was challenged by a relative of the Archbishop of Canterbury to disclose whether Judaism had any rituals that rose to the level of the great drama of the Easter service in Anglican tradition. In answer, S.Y. Agnon wrote his literary masterpiece: "The Days of Awe," published in 1948. He plumbed the vastness of Jewish texts and traditions and extracted his own literary exploration of the High Holy Day rituals. In anticipation of Rosh Hashanah (which begins this Sunday evening), this week's kavanot draw from the wealth of Agnon’s marvelous work. Full poetic license has been exercised to reflect modern sensibilities and egalitarianism. Passages inspired by "The Days of Awe" are italicized, other content is the author's.The Kol Nidrei (All Our Vows) prayer is traditionally chanted three times. With each repetition the cantor’s voice grows louder. We begin with reticence; we end with determination. Though the [...]

It is said that Nobel Prize-winning author Shmuel Yoseph Agnon was challenged by a relative of the Archbishop of Canterbury to disclose whether Judaism had any rituals that rose to the level of the great drama of the Easter service in Anglican tradition. In answer, S.Y. Agnon wrote his literary masterpiece: " The Days of Awe," published in 1948. He plumbed the vastness of Jewish texts and traditions and extracted his own literary exploration of the High Holy Day rituals. In anticipation of Rosh Hashanah (which begins this Sunday evening), the next several kavanot will draw from the wealth of Agnon’s marvelous work. Full poetic license has been exercised to reflect modern sensibilities and egalitarianism. Passages inspired by "The Days of Awe" are italicized, other content is the author’'s. Our rabbis tell of a child, raised with care by their parent, who chose a marriage partner who led that child away [...]

It is said that Nobel Prize-winning author Shmuel Yoseph Agnon was challenged by a relative of the Archbishop of Canterbury to disclose whether Judaism had any rituals that rose to the level of the great drama of the Easter service in Anglican tradition. In answer, S.Y. Agnon wrote his literary masterpiece: "The Days of Awe," published in 1948. He plumbed the vastness of Jewish texts and traditions and extracted his own literary exploration of the High Holy Day rituals. In anticipation of Rosh Hashanah (which begins this Sunday evening), the next several kavanot will draw from the wealth of Agnon’s marvelous work. Full poetic license has been exercised to reflect modern sensibilities and egalitarianism. Passages inspired by "The Days of Awe" are italicized, other content is the author's.A rabbi asked: Why do the Yamim Nora'im (High Holy Days) come every year? His colleague answered: "God reviews each person's deeds yearly so that they may [...]