THE SOUND OF HIGH HOLY DAYS

THE SOUND OF HIGH HOLY DAYS

The month of Elul begins this weekend. For Jews, Elul is a time of reflection as we begin to prepare for the New Year. Our daily prayers add the Psalm for the Season of Repentance and the daily blowing of the Shofar. We take note of the upcoming season in the sounds of the Shofar. Elul is a beautiful acronym for the Hebrew phrase “Ani L’dodi V’dodi Li” – I am my beloved, and my beloved is mine. This phrase is often inscribed in wedding rings, and represents the devotion of the people of Israel to G-d. Elul is the time to review our behavior during the past year, make amends and plan to do better in the year to come.

During the month of Elul, I am always entrenched in the music for the upcoming High Holy Days. As I open the music for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur for another year of review, the tonality of the music penetrates my soul to prepare to pray with humility and purity. The music is set in High Holy Day nusach, a special set of melodies that are only used at this time of year. Additionally, our services for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur contain special texts and P’yutim that are only sung or read during the Season of Repentance. I cannot think of Rosh Hashanah without the prayers of Un-Neh-Tah-Neh To-Kev and B’Rosh Hashanah. These are the high point of the holy days for me; the prayers that reinforce in text and melody how we are each judged by G-d for our deeds from the previous year. B’Rosh Hashanah reminds us in no uncertain terms that some of us will live and some will die during the upcoming year, and that on Rosh Hashanah the Book of Life is still opened, while on Yom Kippur it is sealed by our deeds and our desire for repentance. G-d is always willing to accept our repentance, as long as it is made with T’shuvah, Tefillah and Tzedakah.

As I rehearse this portion of the service every year, it always strikes me how small I am. I find it necessary each year to go through the text, and various prayer books with different translations and interpretations to gain a deeper meaning of these 2 sections of prayers. The music triggers a sense memory; maybe how you sat in shul with parents or grandparents in years past wrapped in their tallit or watching them daven. More than 30 years after my grandfather’s passing, I still feel he is with me as I chant these words. As Cantor for a congregation in Santa Monica, each year I am very aware that I daven this text with a responsibility to the entire congregation for forgiveness and another year of life. These prayers surround me during the month of Elul, both the text and the pleading sounds of the melody.

If you were to close your eyes and listen to the choir singing Shema Yisrael on Erev Rosh Hashanah, the sound of the melody tells us exactly where we are in the Jewish year. The sound of the Shofar tells us that the time is here to do better. Elul is the month to think about where you are, and where you should be… in your life, in your family, career, relationships. Elul is the time to take stock, personally and professionally and jewishly. We must hold ourselves accountable in order to make sure to start the New Year on a positive note. Come to VBS and make the music of the High Holy Days part of your soul.

Cantor Toby Schwartz