This High Holidays: Are we Praying to be Raised or Praying to be Lowered?
The high note of the Yamim Noraim service, both literally and figuratively, growing up, was the two-word phrase “mi yarum,” “who will be raised,” halfway through the U-Netaneh Tokef piyyut. These two words proceed the congregation’s cry of the now-anthem of the day “Repentance, prayer, charity can remove the evil of the decree,” and the two-word phrase carries a special intensity. “Who will be raised” ought to carry a special message for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, although what that…