Listen to the Rain

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?
-Isaiah 58:5-6

Yesterday (and the night before) was Yom Kippur. For Kol Nidre I watched the stream, since Laila was coming home from the grandparents and sashagee could use some help. I feel like that was the best option, since while the Kol Nidre song is beautiful, it's usually a solo and there's not much additional effect from being in a crowd. It also meant I was at home for the traditional rabbinic exhortation to give money that happens every Yom Kippur, which is fine. I gave my $18 and went on my way, and it meant I didn't need to make the trip home from the center when the service was done (an hour by bus this year).

Yesterday I went to the center twice, for the main Yom Kippur service and the Torah service. While Mishkan has classes to keep people around, this year they weren't that interesting to me--when I was thinking of going to the meditation at 3:45 p.m. (an hour after Torah service ended and I stepped out before Yizkor), I realized that I could just go home and see my family, so I did. This turned out to be somewhat of a problem when I went to leave again and Laila made that sad warbling sound and then collapsed on the ground wailing when I didn't take her with me.

I missed three buses on the way back to the center because the bus stops are all being moved around and it took me an extra thirty minutes to get there, but I still arrived in time for El Nora Alilah, only sung once per year during Neilah (נעילה, "locking) and my favorite part of the service. At that point you've passed the afternoon tiredness and enervated hump--or at least I have--and it's all anticipation as we stand before the Torah, hundreds of people singing together as the Gates of Heaven are closing.

Maybe I just like it because, along with Unetanneh Tokef, it's the most goth of the Yom Kippur prayers.

Wikipedia has a lovely poetic translation of the lyrics for El Nora Alilah. Here's a part of them:

Chorus:
God of awe, God of might, God of awe, God of might,
Grant us pardon in this hour, As Thy gates are closed this night.

We who few have been from yore, Raise our eyes to heaven's height,
Trembling, fearful in our prayer, As Thy gates are closed this night.

[Chorus]

Pouring out our soul we pray That the sentence Thou wilt write
Shall be one of pardoned sin, As Thy gates are closed this night.

[Chorus]

God, our refuge strong and sure, Rescue us from dreadful plight;
Seal our destiny for joy, As Thy gates are closed this night.

[Chorus]

Grant us favor, show us grace; But of all who wrest the right
And oppress, be Thou the judge, As Thy gates are closed this night.