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As a shepherd controls his flock

שו”תCategory: philosophyAs a shepherd controls his flock
asked 5 years ago

I always feel uncomfortable with this part of the prayer (which is supposed to be one of its highlights during the High Holy Days) without addressing the essence of the prayer but rather as the idea that most of us were raised with that there is some bearded father or grandfather sitting up there and counting and checking. Someone or something that keeps track of our actions here. This conception of God seems childish, unrealistic, and devalues ​​God to me. I prefer to see God as a spiritual, essential part of who I am and something that unites all these spiritual beings in the world. I would be happy and grateful to understand what the rabbi thinks about these conceptions.


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מיכי Staff answered 5 years ago
Why did you decide that it should be one of the peaks? I think the image you describe is childish and there is no reason to adopt it. This is a day of soul-searching, and you are supposed to examine yourself as a shepherd examines his flock. And even if God does this, it is not a panacea but a genuine interest in the condition of each of His creatures. After all, He created us for some purpose, so why wouldn’t He check to see if it really works?!

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הלל replied 5 years ago

I agree with Risha about personal soul searching.. I don't understand what the point of God being purely "interested" is. It doesn't seem logical to me that He follows every creature. And the piyyut also talks about the act of "cutting a ration" not just being interested.. I can accept all of these as metaphors for something else. But the religious education I received and that I see even today in our society accepts these images as literal.

מיכי replied 5 years ago

And therefore? Why should this or that poet, or these or those educators, determine what your view is, or what your attitude is to Judaism?
Maimonides, in his roots, refers to the first mitzvot (the authors of the Warnings) and calls them contemptuously poets.

הלל replied 5 years ago

And how do you see these images? Do you really think that God sits and cuts a stipend? How do you see the relationship between this and what will ultimately happen between man and the Creator in these days of between a cover and a decade?

מיכי Staff replied 5 years ago

I have no idea what happens between man and his Creator during these days, and I don't know who could have a clue. For me, this is first and foremost a Torah observance that must be observed. The content that was included in it is the responsibility of those who included it. Therefore, in my opinion, it is reasonable to make these days days for man to reflect on his soul, and within this framework to make repentance. See column 27.
You can also see column 241 on law and mercy and their meaning.

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