[HANASHIR:3006] Re: Water on Yom Kippur

[Chazzzan <Chazzzan...>]

Ethan, I quite agree with you.  However, as you can see, some of our 
correspondents on this list have said that they would resent the supposed 
restriction of their personal "choice" and "freedom" imposed by Tradition.    

Last year, I had water at the bimah for both days of Rosh Hashanah.  One of 
the congregants was kind enough to refill the pitcher each day.

On Yom Kippur, she once again brought the pitcher --this time in error -- 
just a few minutes before services began, and the several congregants present 
were SHOCKED to see it.   The rabbi just stood there, not believing what he 
was seeing.   I made a REALLY big show of thanking her, but reminding her 
that YK was a fast day, even for the cantor!  

I was terribly parched by the end of the long day, but spiritually and 
emotionally high.  Someone on this list mentioned the "adrenaline rush" of 
singing one's lungs out without the benefit of food or water for 25 hours.  
Maybe it was the adrenaline...but I never felt so connected to Jewish 
tradition and history as I was at the moment of the "closing of the gates" - 
Neilah.

(I apologize if I have offended anyone here by relying too much on Tradition)

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