In Avinu Malkeinu, we ask for God'a compassionate care:
Our Father, our King! Send a complete healing to the sick among Your people!
Our Father, our King! Remove from us plague, sword, famine, and destruction!
Our Father, our King! Remember that we are but dust and ashes!
Our Father, our King! Speedily bring us salvation!
In many communities, this prayer is not recited when the High Holy Days fall on Shabbat. This is because we do not recite petitionary prayers on Shabbat. God rested on the seventh day, and even God deserves a day off.
Similarly, we do not offer petitionary prayers during the Amidah on Shabbat or on the High Holy Days. Instead, we focus on Kedushat Hayom -- the holiness of the day. On Rosh Hashanah, the themes of holiness of the day focus on God's sovereignty. God is sovereign of the world, who sanctifies Israel and the Day of Remembrance.
In other words, instead of directly asking God for forgiveness, we praise God in the hopes that he will grant us forgiveness.
In turn, our job is to ask ourselves and those we've wronged for forgiveness and compassion.
No comments:
Post a Comment