Wednesday, October 9, 2019

Yom Kippur 5780 ~ Leonard Cohen and Who by Fire


Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, began at sundown yesterday and goes till sundown tonight. This object is a shofar, a ram's horn, which is blown on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur to call people to repentance. 


Leonard Cohen's "You Want it Darker," is inspired by the Rosh Hashanah / Yom Kippur prayer, "Who by Fire, Who by Water" ..



Who By Fire, Who By Water
According to Jewish tradition, on Rosh Hashanah God surveys all of humanity and writes the fate of each of us in The Book of Life. But that fate isn't final until ten days later on Yom Kippur. Then, depending on whether we've repented or not, our fates are sealed.

On Rosh Hashanah it is inscribed
And on Yom Kippur it is sealed
How many shall die and how many shall be born
Who shall live and who shall die
Who at the measure of days and who before
Who by fire and who by water
Who by the sword and who by wild beasts
Who by hunger and who by thirst
Who by earthquake and who by plague
Who by strangling and who by stoning
Who shall have rest and who shall go wandering
Who will be tranquil and who shall be harassed
Who shall be at ease and who shall be afflicted
Who shall become poor and who shall become rich
Who shall be brought low and who shall be raised high.


May you all be inscribed for a good year.  ~ Brian


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