Friday, October 13, 2006

Not a good day to be a willow branch

Today is Hoshanah Rabbah - a semi-holiday marking the very last day you can appeal for a spot in the Book Of Life. This is the "book" that we say is closed and sealed on Yom Kippur night.

I love the concept of this second chance to try to make things right.

At this morning's service we did one of the more esotaric traditions in Judaism: we beat the leaves off of willow branches.

The leaves in this scenario, I believe, are the sins that we'd like to discard.

It always makes for an interesting time, and as the snapshot shows, makes a nice mess.

Nothing like getting in touch with your roots (sorry, couldn't resist)

--Ben

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