They arrived. The ghosts of Gaza stood back Behind the last pews From the first words of Yom Kippur To the last. Kol nidrei All vows Adonai, hu ha’elohim Adonai is God. They mouthed the words In awe of the same God God of compassion Rachamim Eataf. The great blast sounded From the horn of the ram Of the desert they shared. The sun set The congregants ate The ghosts left.
A day of fasting A feast of soul-twisting Confession and contemplation. Of course the morning after is dislocating. Would we rather peacefully abstain Or stay shaken and stirred? Why is this day after different?
Yom Kippur, beginning on the evening of October 11, is the most solemn day of the Jewish year, on which we fast from sundown to sundown.
When we miss meals, we save on the groceries and restaurant meals we might otherwise pay for. Why not take the money we save—from a few dollars to much more—and donate it to help those who, through no fault of their own, are malnourished or starving?
One place that is occurring is in Gaza. Whatever the individual views and ideologies, whatever and wherever blame is assigned, we can all agree that having malnourished and starving children is not good, and that any efforts we make to mitigate the situation are good.
Over half a million Palestinians are suffering from severe malnutrition, and children are dying of starvation. Right now the IRC and its partners are working to deliver urgently needed emergency food, medical supplies and other crucial humanitarian aid to displaced families.
Your gift today will help families in Gaza and conflict zones around the world survive, so please don’t wait. Make an emergency gift to the International Rescue Committee and help people in crisis.
Right now all gifts MATCHED up to $3,500,000.
All gifts, up to $3,500,000 will be matched by generous donors until 11:59 PM on January 2, 2025, or until the match total is met. Gifts received after the match amount has been met will not be matched but will be used where needed most.
Wishing all who fast an easy fast, and all, Jews and non-Jews alike, a good, sweet and peace-filled New Year. All of us deserve it.
Today Is the Birthday of the World (1955), Ben Shahn
The art of Ben Shahn (1898-1969) is, I think, maybe a little out of style these days. This may say something about where we are, as Americans in general and as Jews in particular. From the 1930s through the 1960s, his work as a photographer and artist reflects, in theme and content, an uncompromising commitment to social justice and to the core of his faith. His works are guides through the struggles of the Depression, World War II, postwar economic difficulties, civil rights, and more. He had a special love for Jewish scripture and culture.
I was planning to exhibit some of his artwork promoting voter registration and voting, which I will soon. But given the time of year, I found a couple of his works specifically focused on the High Holidays, which are here right now.
Bookshop: Hebrew Books, Holy Day Books (1953), Ben Shahn. (Note: The Hebrew word at the upper right is machzorim, prayer books for the holiday.)
Please enjoy and explore Ben Shahn. He will be back in these pages, because he is needed.
I have a small collection of older High Holiday machzor (prayer books), including ones used by my grandfather and father.
The jewel of that collection is the one pictured here. It is called Form of Prayers for the Feast of New-Year With English Translation, published by the Hebrew Publishing Company on Canal Street, New York in 1907. The book, with ornate metal clasp, is 3.5 inches x 5 inches.
The cover is mother of pearl and metal. The centerpiece is a carved decoration inscribed with the numbers of the Ten Commandments—in Roman numerals! I think this looks something like a hamsa—a spiritual amulet shaped like a hand, popular in Jewish and other traditions. Maybe not.
I would like to share more pages, but the book is delicate, having been lovingly held together with taped binding during the past century plus. The pages I’ve included below are from the concluding service on Yom Kippur, the Neilah. This offers a tiny idea of what this precious book is like.
The wolf shall live with the lamb; the leopard shall lie down with the kid; the calf and the lion will feed together, and a little child shall lead them. Isaiah 11:6
Christopher Robin had made a long table out of some long pieces of wood, and they all sat around it. Christopher Robin sat at one end, and Pooh sat at the other, and between them on one side were Owl and Eeyore and Piglet, and between them on the other side were Rabbit, and Roo and Kanga. And all Rabbit’s friends-and-relations spread themselves about on the grass, and waited hopefully in case anybody spoke to them, or dropped anything, or asked them the time. Winnie-the-Pooh, Chapter Ten, In Which Christopher Robin Gives Pooh a Party, and We Say Good-bye
Ashamnu אָשַׁמְנוּ nahn maswuwlun نحن مسؤولون We are responsible
Bagadnu בָּגַדְנוּ nahn nakhun نحن نخون We betray
Gazalnu גָּזַלְנוּ nahn nasriq نحن نسرق We steal
Dibarnu dofi דִבַּרְנוּ דֹפִי nahn nahtaqir نحن نحتقر We scorn
He-evinu הֶעֱוִינוּ nahn natasaraf bishakl munharif نحن نتصرف بشكل منحرف We act perversely
V’hirshanu וְהִרְשַׁעְנוּ nahn qusa نحن قساة We are cruel
Zadnu זַדְנוּ nahn nukhatit نحن نخطط We scheme
Chamasnu חָמַסְנוּ nahn eanifun نحن عنيفون We are violent
Tafalnu shaker טָפַלְנוּ שֶקֶר nahn alaiftira’ نحن الافتراء We slander
Ya-atznu ra יָעַצְנוּ רַע nahn nabtakir alshara نحن نبتكر الشر We devise evil
Kizavnu כִּזַבְנוּ nahn naqul al’akadhib نحن نقول الأكاذيب We lie
Latznu לַצְנוּ nahn naskhar نحن نسخر We ridicule
Maradnu מָרַדְנוּ nahn naesi نحن نعصي We disobey
Ni-atznu נִאַצְנוּ nahn nasi’ نحن نسيء We abuse
Sararnu סָרַרְנוּ nahn natahadak نحن نتحداك We defy
Avinu עָוִינוּ nahn nufsid نحن نفسد We corrupt
Tzararnu צָרַרְנוּ nahn eadaayiyuwna نحن عدائيون. We are hostile
Kishinu oref קִשִׁינוּ עֹרֶף nahn eanidun نحن عنيدون We are stubborn
Rashanu רָשַׁעְנוּ nahn ghayr ‘akhlaqiiyn نحن غير أخلاقيين We are immoral
Shichatnu שִׁחַתְנוּ nahn naqtul نحن نقتل We kill
Tiavnu תִּעַבְנוּ nahn nufsid نحن نفسد We spoil
Ta·inu תָּעִינוּ nahn nudil نحن نضل We go astray
Titanu תִּעְתָּעְנוּ nahn naqud alakharin ‘iilaa aldalal نحن نقود الآخرين إلى الضلال We lead others astray
The Jewish High Holidays 5785/2024—the ten Days of Repentance and Awe—begin with Rosh Hashanah, the New Year, on the evening of October 2, and end with Yom Kippur, the Day of Repentance, on October 10.
Confession is a centerpiece of the holiday. In the liturgy, Vidui includes two confessional prayers, Ashamnu and Al Cheit. Ashamnu is the shorter list of transgressions. Al Cheit is a longer detailed list of particular wrongdoings.
The past year has been one of tragedy, suffering and war in Israel, Gaza, the Middle East, and the Jewish world. Whatever our faith, status, history, ideology, grievances, or rationales, we are reminded now that none of is above responsibility, none of us as above the need for confession.
Above is my adaptation of Ashamnu. In Hebrew it is an acrostic, the first letter of each line in alphabetical order. English translations of those words vary, but all are admissions of conduct to be fixed in the year ahead. I’ve changed the common translation of the first word, Ashamnu. Often translated as “we have trespassed” or “we are guilty”, I have borrowed from Abraham Joshua Heschel. He famously said about his early protest of the Vietnam War: “In a free society, few are guilty, but all are responsible.”
My version also adds a rough translation of each expression into Arabic. Not in the least literate in the language, I’ve relied on a digital translator. For any errors in this, small or egregious, my humble and sincere apologies.
The message is that all of us, from the heinous to the heavenly, are responsible. The High Holidays insist that we are imperfect in ways that we may not acknowledge or may ignore. Our hearts may be hard when they should be soft. Why else do we literally beat our chests as we recite each of our wrongs? So we can locate our hearts, reach in, and know what condition they are in.
“Chuck Schumer is Hamas all the way. I don’t know what the hell happened to him. If you support him, you’re crazy.”
“But they do love me in Israel. Everybody loves me. I could run for Prime Minister.”
Trump recently addressed the Israeli-American Council. In his 45-minute incoherent diatribe he explained why American Jews must vote for him.
Some unforgettable moments:
And, sadly, and I have to say this, and it hurts me to say it, you’re going to still vote for Democrats, and it doesn’t make sense. I say all the time that any Jewish person that votes for her, especially now, her or the Democrat Party, should have their head examined. It’s true.
With all I have done for Israel, I received only 24 percent of the Jewish vote. Now, think of this. I really haven’t been treated very well, but that’s the story of my life. It’s true. Think of it. But I understood that because I wasn’t really tested, I wasn’t a politician, and I won. But I understood that. And then I became President and was the best President ever for the people of Israel and for Jewish people. The best President ever.
And I did more for them than any President has and probably any President can do or will do, other than the current situation that’s coming up, because I have a feeling that maybe that’s going to be more than anything that was even done in the past, if you want to know the truth, because I think Israel is in big trouble.
And still, in 2020 — so remember, I got 24, 25 percent. Now I did all of these things, and I got 29 percent. Think of it. So I wasn’t treated right. But it’s not me that’s been treated badly. It’s Israel. Because you can make a big difference in the vote. You’re going to be a big factor in the vote.
I will say, places like Miami and different places were great. But honestly, I went from 25 to 29. And based on what I did, and based on my love of the same love that you have, I should be at 100. I should be at 100. But — But let me give you the bad news. A poll — I just told you how good the polls are, but we need every vote we can get.
The current polling has me with Jewish citizens, Jewish people — people that are supposed to love Israel. After having done all of that, having been the best President, the greatest President, by far — by far — a poll just came out. I’m at 40 percent. That means you got 60 percent voting for somebody that hates Israel. And I say it, it’s going to happen.
It’s only because of the Democrat hold or curse on you. You can’t let this happen. Forty percent is not acceptable because we have an election to win. So after all of this, I went from 29 to 40 percent.
And people that are smart said to me — a friend of mine, Jewish friend of mine, loves Israel, loves everything about your religion and about your country, your place. He said, “I can’t believe it’s happening. It’s sad.” And he started to cry, actually. He started to cry. With all of this — and he’s a tough cookie. I don’t think he cried for — since he was a little tiny baby. Maybe then I don’t think he cried.
And I only want to be — so I’m not going to call this as a prediction, but, in my opinion, the Jewish people would have a lot to do with a loss if I’m at 40 percent. If I’m at — if I think of it, that means 60 percent of voting for Kamala, who, in particular, is a bad Democrat.
The Democrats are bad to Israel. Very bad. They’ll never change because they have a section of their party now which has become amazingly and quickly very powerful, votes-wise. I mean, Chuck Schumer is a Palestinian. Who would have thought that was going to happen? What the hell happened to him? I saw him the other day. He was dressed in one of their robes, you know. That’ll be next. No, Chuck Schumer is Hamas all the way. I don’t know what the hell happened to him. If you support him, you’re crazy.
I’m at 40 percent. And when I heard that number today — it just came out today — when I heard that number today, I think it was insulting to our country. It was insulting to Israel. You know, it’s very interesting. They did a poll in Israel. I’m, like, at 99 percent favorable. I could run for — right now, I could run for any office in Israel. I’m at — in Israel, they love me. Here, not so much.
But they do love me in Israel. Everybody loves me. I could run for Prime Minister. Would you like me as your Prime Minister? But I have to learn your language. That’s a tough language to learn. I have to learn it in about three months. I have to learn it very quickly. But, no, I’m very — most popular person in Israel. But here, it doesn’t translate. It’s a — it’s a strange thing.
On an episode of the NBC show 30 Rock, Idiots Are People Two!, when Tracy Jordan is called an idiot on TV, he rallies his fellow idiots to stage a protest against NBC.
30 Rock is the best TV comedy series of the current era. It found ways to sweetly make fun of America’s social, cultural, business and political foibles. Human foibles too.
Even though the show ended in 2013, some of its sharpest points are timeless. I know many episodes by heart, after frequent rewatching. Today, the episode that came to mind is Idiots Are People Two!