Introduction
There does seem to be a certain sense of hypocrisy
surrounding the
festivals of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
As Jews throughout the
world throng to the synagogue, and spend the days fasting and
praying, some people experience a distinct feeling that this whole
process is nothing more then an affectation, a one-off, insincere,
public show. This sense of hypocrisy is captured in the following
suggestion of the Shulchan Aruch, a major code of Jewish Law
written in the 1500’s, which recommends that in the period between
Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, you should take on additional
customs and religious rituals, even though you have no intention of
continuing with them during the rest of the year! Going to shul,
dressing in white and pounding your chest; all this seems to be an
elaborate pretence to be something that we are not the rest of the
year. Perhaps it would be more honest to replace this one-off, public
spectacle with more regular sessions of self reflection, carried out in
the context of ones home?
Well, there seems little point in denying all this. In a sense, Rosh
Hashanah and Yom Kippur is indeed a show, a performance designed to
inspire and impress. The synagogue does become a theatre, the chazan
(cantor) functions as the play’s director and the Rabbi takes the starring
role. We all take part in this powerful performance, doubling as both
members of the cast as well as the audience. We dress up, we act and we
sing. What would the theatre critic make of our performance? What are
the main themes in our play? Is it a comedy, tragedy or farce? This
chapter reviews the drama that is Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur and
invites you to audition for your own, unique role in the cast.
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