Holidays and The Word on the Street

This week was the Jewish holiday of Roash Hashannah. This marks the start of the Jewish new year, and is also the day the G-d opens the gates of heaven and accepts our prayers and apologies. This is a time for introspection, where we examine the kind of person we were this past year. We make amends, and promise to do better. We also gather with our families and have wonderful dinners, and time together. I have a minor confession to make: I really enjoy going to synnagogue. I like the way the cantor sings the prayers. I like eharing the rabbi's sermons. I find something comforting in the way it stays the same every year. I like being able to go and sing the same tunes every Rosh Hashannah and Yom Kippur. There is something soothing for me in the ritual. I know many people who find it boring, and I can understand perfectly why that is. And that's fine. But I like it.

Any way, next Tuesday evening, Yom Kippur begins, and we sing the Kol Nidre, where we ask G-d to let us out of our vows and promises we couldn't keep. The gates will close, and we will be either forgiven or not. So, I state here, that if I have done anything this past year to offend any of you, or have wronged any of you, I assure you that I didn't mean it. I am sorry. What I look forward to on this day is the fact that I do dinner for my whole family before we walk to synnagogue for the Kol Nidre. This service also marks the beginning of a fast day. My mom traditionally does the breaking of the fast meal the night after. Once again, it's a great time to see all the cousins and friends that you don't get to spend a lot of time with the rest of the year. I love it.

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In other news, this weekend I will be sharing a table at Toronto Word on the Street. Who will I be sharing it with? Why Angelwalk Theatre! So I will be there with the incomparable Jonathon Shaboo from Angelwalk, and I will be selling copies of The Strings of the Violin. So come on down to see us. Pick up a copy of my book. Find out about Angelwalk's awesome season this year. This book festival should be amazing. I hope I can find some time to walk around myself. It looks great!

Anyway, for those interested, here's a video of cantors singing the Kol Nidre.