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JEWS

with
VIEWS Shayna Isaac

Goldberg Barchichat

n every Amidah of Rosh Hashanah, we pray or me, the tefillah that stands out among
ךָ ֶדוֹב ְכ ִבּ וֹלּ ֻכּ ם ָלוֹע ָה ל ָכּ ל ַע ךְוֹל ְמ. We ask all others is the Kol Nidrei prayer. This is the
Hashem to “reign over the entire universe moment when each Jew throughout the
in Your glory” and to “reveal Yourself in the world, religious or not religious, Zionist
Imajestic grandeur of Your strength over all For not Zionist, for or against the current
We asked five the dwellers of Your inhabited world.” judicial reform, takes a moment to retrospect
These words powerfully capture for me
and reflect upon their purpose in this world.
This is a unique moment in the Jewish
accomplished the essence of the Yamim Nora’im. These are calendar, when young children come with their
not only days of personal judgment when
individuals introspect, repent and yearn to be parents to shul and meet with their elders to pray
Jews from deserving of another year of life. It is also a time all together for a year full of life and success.
to recognize Hashem’s kingship and beg Him to
In France, as in many other communities, the
reign over not only the Jewish people but the privilege to chant the Kol Nidrei is often given
around the entire universe. “Let everything that has been not to the chazan but to the oldest or wisest
made know that You are its Maker.” We yearn for
person in the congregation, creating a de facto
absolute clarity of purpose, for an understanding connection between the different generations
world: of both our personal and collective roles in life, within the community. This is when we hope
and for direction for ourselves and for others. A
and pray that the chosen shaliach delivers
Which part world where “everything with a life’s breath in our prayers to Hashem and convinces Him to
positively accept our prayers. This is the most
its nostrils will proclaim that G-d of Israel is King
and His Kingship rules over everything” will be beautiful moment, when Jews throughout
of the Yamim a world of order and justice, a world filled with France pray together, united as one, with great
peace, meaningful interactions and experiences
hope for the future of our community.
and a joint desire to fulfill G-d’s vision in its
Nora’im tefillot entirety.

do you find

the most

meaningful?

Shayna Goldberg is the author of the book “What
Do You Really Want? Trust and Fear at Life’s Cross- Isaac Barchichat is a Yeshiva University graduate,
roads and in Everyday Living” (Maggid, 2021), an Deputy Mayor in the Paris region, an activity com-
editor for Deracheha, a website on women and munity leader, director of a youth movement, mar-
mitzvot, and a mashgicha ruchanit for the SKA ried to Batya and a father of four. Isaac has been
Beit Midrash for Women (Migdal Oz). recently appointed Director of Mizrachi France.

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