Yom Kippur Wellness Workshop

Shortly after the sin of the Golden Calf, Moses ascends to Mount Sinai once again and seeks direction from God. In doing so, Moses pleads with God by saying: “Oh, let me behold Your Presence!”

God answers by saying: “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim before you the name Adonai, and the grace that I grant and the compassion that I show..." The LORD passed before Moses and proclaimed:

Adonai, Adonai, El Rachum V'chanun, Erech Apayim, V'rav Hesed v'emet, nosei avon, v'feshah, v'chatah, v'nakeh

Adonai, Adonai, God compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in kindness and faithfulness, extending kindness to the thousandth generation, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin (Ex 34-35).

This prayer, once said by G-d in the story of the Exodus, is now said by us repeatedly during the high holidays.

1. Why do you think God has to remind Moses about God's own is compassion?
2. What can this teach us about our own practice of self-compassion on this holy day?
3. Why do you think there is a repition of G-d's name in the first two words of this prayer?

Tosephot to Rosh HaShanah 17b (Rabbenu Tam 1000-1071):

Adonai: The Lord is merciful before a person sins

Adonai: The Lord is merciful after a person has sinned and repented

El: He is all-powerful

rahum: He is compassionate

v'hanun: and gracious

erekh appayyim: He is slow to anger

v'rav hesed: He is abounding in kindness

v'emet: even after His scrutiny of our conduct

notzer hesed la'alafim: His kindness extends to future generations

nosei avon: He forgives sins committed willfully

v'feshah: He forgives sins committed in defiance of God's will

v'hatah: as well as those committed unwittingly

v'nakeh: He acquits/cleanses the repentant sinner; but only if he repents.

Rambam: The Guide for the Perplexed 1:54

The Sages call them "characteristics" and speak of the "thirteen attributes." This term, as they use it, is applied to moral qualities...For the utmost virtue of man is to become like God, as far as he is able...

As the Sages made clear when interpreting the verse "You shall be holy." They said: "He is gracious, so be you also gracious; He is merciful, so be you also merciful."

A Poetic Translation of the Thirteen Attributes for Reflection During Yamim Noraim

1. Adonai: God is merciful before a person sins even though God knows we are all fully capable everyday of making mistakes both big and small.
2. Adonai: God is merciful even after we have gone astray.
3. El: God's mercy sometimes outweighs the God of judgement.
4. Rachum (Compassionate One): God is filled with loving sympathy for human frailty and can ease our internalized feelings of punishment and guilt.
5. V'chanun (And Gracious One): God consoles the afflicted and raises up the oppressed.
6. Erech Ap'aim (Slow to Anger): God gives us ample time to reflect, improve and repent.
7. V'Rav Hesed (Abundant in Kindness): God tips the scales towards kindness, whether we are deserving of this kindness or not.
8. V'emet (God of Truth): God steadfast in His commitment to us-- whether that is in Her eternal compassion for us or in His ability to help us own up to our mistakes. With an Eternal God of truth we know that we are never walking alone through the shadow.
9. Notzer Hesed L'alafim (God's Kindness Extends to the Thousands): God remembers the merits of our ancestors for generations upon generations, and showers us with this mercy as well.
10. Nosei Avon (Forgiver of Iniquity): God will carry away intentional sins as long as proper repentance has been attempted.
11. V'Feshah (Forgiver of Transgression) God will forgive intentional sins against God as long as proper repentence and reflection has been made.
12. V'Hatah (Forgiver of Sin): God will forgive even unintentional sins that were committed out of carelessness, apathy, thoughtlessness, haste or self-absorbing thoughts, as long as proper self-reflection has been given towards this process because directs amends cannot be made for unintentional sins.
13. V'nakeh (God Who Cleanses): When all of these processes have been done, then God will purify and cleanse us to begin the new year with a clean slate.