Elul 23/September 7

*Our Father, Our King

High Holy Day liturgy is majestic and bold. Using grandiose language and strong imagery, it helps pull feeling into our prayers, and drives home the point of why we are gathering for two (or three) full days of prayer over a ten-day period. One of my favorite pieces is Avinu Malkeinu. Its simple, repetitive style coupled with its pleading tones always helps me focus on my needs for the coming Jewish year. We pray that God will hear our voice, show us mercy, remember us, save us, act on our behalf, etc.

The problem many of us have with Avinu Malkeinu is its apparently gendered description of God. The English translates literally to, “Our Father, Our King,” which has led to a variety of different attempts to be more inclusive, such as using “Avinu Imanu,” (Our Father, Our Mother--which leaves out Malkeinu altogether), or “Imanu Malchoteinu” (Our Mother, Our Queen--which is a bigger gender issue than the masculine).  The language of the machzor we use in the Reform movement was changed in 1996 for the second edition of Gates of Repentance. Instead of “Our Father, Our King,” we now say, “Avinu Malkeinu,” choosing not to translate so that we can decide for ourselves what the words mean.

While that non-translation style is still used in the new machzor, Mishkan Hanefesh, it makes an effort to help us understand Avinu Malkeinu as “Almighty and Merciful.” This translation brings to mind the perfect image of a loving parent and ruler. Having both the power to do anything, and the mercy to not use all the power at hand so that we can be loved with that perfect blend of justice and mercy that we ask of God.

We call you Avinu--

as a loving Parent, forgive our wrongs and failings; accept us in our human frailty.

We call you Malkeinu--

as Sovereign of our souls, help us to rise from our brokenness to build a world of shalom.

(Mishkan Hanefesh, p. 74)

*Today's teaching is in honor of my father Vic Young z"l, who would have turned 72 today.