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September 7, 2022

Why are You Sleeping? Piyyutim of Awakening to the Yamim Noraim

Victoria Sutton
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Victoria Sutton

Rabbanit Victoria Sutton is on the Judaic studies faculty at the Heschel School and has taught in the Drisha High School Summer Program. Prior to that, she served as the Director of Education and Community Engagement at Congregation Beth Israel, a Modern Orthodox synagogue in Berkeley. She was ordained through Yeshivat Maharat in 2014. A graduate of Barnard College, with a BA in Biological Sciences, she also holds a Grand Diploma in Pastry Arts from the French Culinary Institute. Victoria sat on the board of Jewish Family and Community Services East Bay and was involved with community organizations in New York City focusing on homelessness, literacy, sexual assault and domestic violence.

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Session 1: Wake Up

Throughout the month of Elul, Jewish communities rise early for Selihot, whose words and melodies serve to awaken us to teshuva (repentance) and Seliha (forgiveness). We will study the text and themes of several Selihot piyyutim together, including the opening piyyut “Ben Adam Mah Lekha Nirdam” (“Human Being, Why do you Slumber?”)

Session 2: Open the Gates

Rosh HaShanah, through Yom Kippur, are viewed as a time when the Gates of Rahamim, Mercy, are particularly receptive – an Et shaareh ratson. We will look at several central piyytim that develop this theme, and that introduce the Shofar and prayers of the day.

Session 1: Wake Up

Session 2: Open the Gates

Session 1: Wake Up – Source

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Session 2: Open the Gates – Source

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