The fundamental message of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
is one of repentance. A major part of their observance is a very lengthy service.
Both the liturgy and its message require preparation and among them is a
service, recited daily for two weeks, called “Slichos”. Its name (סליחות)
literally means pardons and contains numerous liturgical poems with this theme.
The idea is that poetry acclimates the heart towards repentance. However, the
poetry, both vocabulary and form, can be difficult, therefore intellectual
preparation is needed as well.
A popular piyut is “Angels of Mercy” מַלאֲכֵי רַחֲמִים. It is basically an appeal for mercy,
whose reply is uncertain, in which the poverty and suffering of the Jewish
people is frequently mentioned. It starts with a two line introduction followed
by seven four line stanzas. All are followed by a refrain of, “Perhaps He will
spare a poor and destitute people, perhaps he will be merciful”.
A number of ideas are captured in this refrain.
Concerning suffering often a sinner claims that everything is fine even though
things may obviously be very bad. When a person acknowledges their low and
miserable condition there is also a tendency to search for what has brought
them to this state then to recognize their mistakes and make amends. Another
idea is recognizing that the petition can be denied and even if granted it
would be an act of mercy. These feelings make a person submissive therefore
facilitate change.
The poem opens with an appeal to the administering angels
who are called angels of mercy. They are asked to articulately bring Israel’s
entreaty before the Almighty. In the first stanza the people are referred as
the remnant of Joseph, who are calling out in prayer, and requesting an
audience with G-d. The idea is that estrangement from religion can be so great
that an intermediary is needed in order for a conversation even to begin. By
calling themselves Joseph there is a hint that the people hope to be as virtuous
as he was.
The third stanza starts the actual request for
forgiveness. The people are described as having their eyes fixed on the holy
One, blessed be He, in order to find favor before Him. This idea is developed
in the next stanza, where they actually request a pardon. It continues with their
merits. At all times and situations they praise G-d. In times of trouble they
band together to pray for deliverance. In addition they do these things even
though they are sensitive about it.
The fifth stanza adds that the nation has not forgotten
the Torah in spite of being persecuted by enemies. It continues that they have
been punished for their conspicuous sins. The sixth stanza adds that they have
accepted the punishments without complaint. The final stanza recalls that the
nation is in exile and requests redemption not only from captivity but also
poverty and disease.
The request in the piyut, and in fact all of the Slichot,
is on behalf of the Jewish nation as a whole and not a request for personal
forgiveness. The idea may be that it is easier for a person to recognize his
failures if he considers them to be failures that are common to all of his
countrymen. In addition the mixing of sins which a person did not commit with
ones that he did, makes it easier for him to face up to them. In addition there
is the idea that all Jews are responsible for one another, therefore a person
has some culpability for the sins committed by his friend.
לע"נ, הדוד ,שמואל
בן נח ז"ל נלב"ע ט"ו אב תשס"ט,
Acknowledgements to websites:
תורת אמת, וויקיטקסט, http://dictionary.reference.com/, http://hebrewbooks.org/,
וגם בדואר אלקטרוני
ניתן באתר http://dyschreiber.blogspot.co.il
Blogger English
http://dyschreiber.blogspot.com/2014/09/angels-of-mercy.html
Blogger Hebrew
http://dyschreiber.blogspot.com/2014/09/86.html
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