Entering the High Holy Days: A Guide to Origins, Themes, and Prayers by Reuven HammerMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this book! The High Holy Days always seemed kind of boring and morbid to me. I didn't realize that there was such an emphasis on appreciating life. I liked the idea of using this time to contemplate the previous year and to evaluate ourselves and see what could be changed for the better. That makes sense and doesn't seem morbid at all!
Some quotes from pg. 36:
- "Indeed, life and death are the overriding concerns of these days. Rosh Hashanah emphasizes life and its renewal; Yom Kippur deals with death and renunciation, but only so that we may return to life purified and reinvigorated. Together, these two holy days help us realize that life is God's most precious gift and humankind's most precious possession........"
- "This festival of life resensitizes us and renews our commitment to life."
- "These Days of Awe teach us to appreciate the gift of life and to affirm the freedom and responsibility of each human being to conduct his or her life with morality and decency as God has taught us. They confirm for us that what we do or do not do matters, and they make us aware how easily we can stray and how possible it is to change, to improve and remake our lives."
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