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"Prayer is meaningless unless it is subversive, unless it seeks to overthrow and to ruin the pyramids of callousness, hatred, opportunism, falsehoods. The liturgical movement must become a revolutionary movement, seeking to overthrow the forces that continue to destroy the promise, the hope, the vision." —Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
This Friday night begins Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. On this day, Jews around the world refrain from all physical pleasures (eating, bathing and screwing, to name a few), and devote themselves to prayer and supplication, begging the Lord forgiveness of their sins so that they may be written into the Book of Life.
But is fasting and beating our chests really the best we can do to redeem ourselves?
As lower Manhattan erupts with thousands of protesters taking a stand against economic injustice, the words of the prophet Isaiah resonate more truthfully and appropriately than ever:
"Is such the fast that I have chosen? the day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD? Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the fetters of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him, and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thy healing shall spring forth speedily; and thy righteousness shall go before thee, the glory of the LORD shall be thy rearward."
Thus rather than spending the holiday safe and warm in our cozy synagogues thinking abstractly about human suffering, perhaps we should truly afflict ourselves and undertake the fast of Isaiah, by joining the demonstrators in Zuccotti Park, and holding our Yom Kippur services there amongst the oppressed, hungry, poor and naked.
Not to be cliché, but as Rabbi Hillel the Elder said, “If I am not for myself, who will be for me? But if I am only for myself, who am I? If not now, when?”
Join us for Kol Nidre at Occupy Wall Street this Friday night at 7PM.
Please read the following notes in full so that you can have the most enjoyable and meaningful experience possible.
TIME AND LOCATION
The service will begin at 7PM sharp.
It will be held directly across from Zuccotti Park in the plaza in front of Brown Brothers Harriman at 140 Broadway in Manhattan, near the red cube. We will have signs posted and you can ask someone at an information table where the Yom Kippur service is being held.
ABOUT THE SERVICE
It will be a traditional egalitarian service: Hebrew language with some English readings and a gender neutral space.
Our wonderful volunteer leaders are Avi Fox Rosen (Storahtelling), Sarah Wolf (JTS), and Getzel Davis (Hebrew College), who are being assisted in preparations by Yosef Goldman (JTS) and Rabbi Ezra Weinberg (RRC). Affiliation is for identification purposes only.
PRAYERBOOKS
If possible, please bring your own Yom Kippur machzor. If you do not have a machzor, we will have ~100, graciously loaned to us by The Rabbinical Assembly for Conservative Judaism. If you prefer, you can download and print this PDF version to bring with you:
http://is.gd/AM22Xa. There is also a supplement we request that you print out and bring with you:
http://is.gd/idv5aY.
SOUND, PHOTOGRAPHY & LIGHTING
There will be no musical instruments or amplification. The lack of amplification may make it difficult for the hard of hearing. We will do our best to accommodate.
We also request that you please refrain from taking video or photographs, as more observant participants may feel uncomfortable. If you are being photographed, please do not engage in an altercation with the photographer. Turn away or wave your hand "no" to communicate your desire to not be photographed.
We cannot, as of yet, guarantee a well-lit space. If you are comfortable using electricity on yom tov, we recommend bringing a small flashlight or headlamp to read with.
SEATING
Seating will not be provided. Feel free to bring your own portable chairs or to sit on the ground.
A WORD OF CAUTION
Please also be advised that as the occupation is both a decentralized action and an act of civil disobedience, there may be disruptions and/or the possibility of police interference. Though it is highly unlikely, participants nonetheless risk the possibility of arrest. Please be prepared for that possibility. The National Lawyers Guild and ACLU have legal observers on-site who can provide legal aid in the event of a police confrontation. Regardless, we request that you be respectful towards the police at all times.
KAPPAROT
If you are interested, come early and bring money for kapparot (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kapparot) to donate as tzedakah to the Occupy Wall Street movement. We will do the kapparot ritual at 6PM.
SEUDAH MAFSEKET
No suedah mafseket (pre-fast meal) is officially planned, but feel free to coordinate with others in the comments on the event.
SATURDAY SERVICES
No Saturday services are planned. If you will be in the area of Lower Manhattan, you are welcome to attend services at Battery Park Synagogue or Chabad of Wall Street. Otherwise, CBST has welcomed all participants to join them for services at the Javitz Convention Center. There are also free services with Ohel Ayalah throughout the city.
G’mar chatimah tova!
This event has been endorsed by Jews for Racial & Economic Justice (JFREJ) and the Shalom Center
