Our Relevant Religion – Thoughts on the High Holy Days 5773
There is a tradition in Germany that is a bit difficult for both rabbis and cantors. On Yom Kippur, after months of preparation, comes the big moment: an awe-filled day full of prayers, songs and important theological ideas. Even though there are always some who attend the full day of services, the majority show up only for Yiskor – the memorial service on Yom Kippur afternoon. Naturally this is a much-discussed phenomenon among rabbis. Some even perceive the great demand for Yiskor as a sort of insult. “I prepare so much, and then people only come for 15 minutes…” It is, in fact, difficult for a rabbi to ask the question “Why? Why Yiskor?” without sounding judgmental. In my opinion, the answer is clear: people understand Yiskor. Judaism isn’t easy. In fact, it is often unbelievably complicated. Our traditions not only stem from the five books of Moses, which alone are very rich, but also from 3,000 years of texts, discussions, poems and stories.