[HANASHIR:3009] Re: Water on Yom Kippur

[DurlKare <DurlKare...>]

In a message dated Mon, 24 May 1999 10:15:48 AM Eastern Daylight Time, Ethan 
Leigh Bueno de Mesquita <mesquita (at) fas(dot)harvard(dot)edu> writes:

> On a related note to the one mentioned before, the Chazzan serves as the
> Shaliach Tzibor for the entire congregation.  I would imagine that many
> congregants would feel that a Chazzan who was not fully observing the fast
> was, in fact, not praying the Yom Kippur liturgy with genuine kavanah.
> And if this is the case, according to Tradition, it is as though the
> congregants themselves have not said the prayers, because the shaliach did
> not have the proper kavanah. Given the gravity of the day, I don't think
> this is the sort of decision that should be made unilaterally by anyone. 
> 
Having grown up in an Orthodox synagogue and seen the vast amount of davening 
that an Orthodox cantor does (presumably without a drop of water) during Yom 
Kippur, and now affiliating in Reform congregation(s), where the amount of 
davening is (don't mean to offend anyone, sorry) somewhat less lengthy, I 
have really appreciated this discussion.  I have a few thoughts on the topic. 
 I will be participating in the high holiday choir for the second year, and 
fyi, the question of water or no water did come up from choir members last 
year.  I believe we agreed to keep any personal water bottles out of sight 
and to be discreet.

If Reform tradition allows for individuals to make "informed choices" about 
their practice of mitzvot, does this include fasting on Yom Kippur?  I know 
many people for whom fasting all day on YK is the only Jewish thing they do 
all year long.  I'm not sure I would say that breaking the fast with water, 
according to one's own definition of a medical need, is an indication of 
one's lack of kavannah in prayer and in repenting.  I do not know the quote 
(or if there is one) but I do know that we are not supposed to judge 
another's intentions, or sins, or righteousness.  

Just my very, extremely humble, opinion.
-Karen D.

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