Kol Nidre To Me
My novel writing brought me facing ‘sacrificial thought’
With questions – being sadly misinformed –
A friend of mine, a colleague, who had walked some miles with me
Gave modern view, a current Jewish norm.“Atonement day”, (I heard from him – my garbled view at least)
“Is time to stand aside for clearer view;
We look back on the year that's past and ask where now we stand,
Just before we step into a year that's new.“The highlight of the ten-day pause, for us today that is –
The singing of ‘Kol Nidre’ at the end;
So special is that music to us in community
That it's singing marks the Cantor's quality.“It's time, though strange it seems, to set aside all promises –
For us, the call’s to live our lives above
The level of an obligation –‘just because we must’ –
Move beyond it – to authentic life of love.“We set aside the year that's passed and turn to face the next
We ask authentic life be what we live –
Responding to the folks we meet, engaging soul to soul,
Not just getting from them – seeking life to give.”So as I turn to Internet, to hear Kol Nidre's notes
And let that music soothe my restless soul,
I face the challenge of its words to live authentically,
Now engaging life with vibrant love its goal.So much I have received from them – my Jewish neighbours here –
And from their journey of four thousand years
Of moving into life beyond the common and the low,
Through their triumphs, joys, and struggles mixed with tears.And also, one of them I thank especially, of course,
Whatever else He said, or did, or thought;
For all this treasure opened He, to me and other folks,
To my culture salt, and light, and leaven, brought.These words of life came to our cultures halfway through their years;
The second half we've spent just catching on;
I am so glad the Jewish people pushed on into life –
Now Kol Nidre washes over me in song.navigation