Yom Kippur: Jonah

[ellenkushner]

My hair isn't washed, and it's not going to be. I'm going to finish the important email, then eat some dinner, put on white linen, and go, before sunset, to a nearby synagogue and join the congregation to begin Yom Kippur by asking to be released from all wrong vows that I have made this year, and to fast for 24 hours to seal the bargain with the year's cycle for the chance to begin again when the Gates are Closed at sunset tomorrow night.

I'm so glad many of you liked my "The Door is Opened" High Holiday show. Here is the companion piece, a Sound & Spirit show I made a few years later, about the Book of Jonah - which is read aloud on the afternoon of Yom Kippur, and has much to do with seeking, finding, and turning, turning just right to listen to one's inner voice.

If it won't play here for you, just go to:
http://www.wgbh.org/programs/Sound--Spirit-226/episodes/Jonah-5052

And, yes, some years my birthday does fall on Yom Kippur.

Comments

[eglantine-br.livejournal.com]

Wow. Lots to think about. I had not known the whole story, just the sort of Disney version.

The story in its entirety is strange. I feel that I can almost see a lesson there, about anger and responsibility and letting go of -- well, I can almost see it, and then it slides away again. Puzzling.

Anyway, thank you. Also, you have a lovely voice.

[dreamflower]

I remember that program with a good deal of fondness.

[negothick.livejournal.com]

I have had the honor of chanting Maftir Yonah on Yom Kippur afternoon for over 5 years now--I'd gladly give the honor to someone else, but there are no volunteers. It IS a great story, and I'm always glad to have survived another year and another fast day.

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

That is most cool. I bet you do it splendidly. I've gotten to the point where I can *almost* follow the Hebrew (along w/English tr.) when I listen. Would love to hear you sometime. I will think of you next year.

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Yep - I love Rabbi Harold's little snark about Pinocchio!

So glad you enjoyed it. It's a very *dense* program - I had lots more to say; had to cut about 6 pages to get it down to 59 minutes. It may be that, if you have a chance to listen again, more of it will come clear to you. And it is a very profound topic, too; we're not really used to thinking about such things in our world.