Bring on Yom Kippur: New Jonah Video!
I Can Change.
Jonah Lyric Video - Rabbi Josh Warshawsky
I can change, I can change, I can still change.
Shanah Tovah!
I hope you had a wonderful, musical, and meaningful Rosh Hashanah. Do you have any highlights? Please reply and share with me, I'd love to hear! I was at Temple Beth Am in Los Angeles, one of my favorite places to pray. Rabbi Rebecca Schatz and I co-lead some really beautiful (in my opinion!) and musical prayer experiences and I'm still feeling uplifted from the joy, song, and energy I felt in our space together.
In the spirit of asking forgiveness, I want to apologize for an error in last week's e-mail. I attributed the quote from Les Miserables to Javert, though it was Jean Valjean who sang those iconic words in the musical. Thanks to those who responded and corrected me.
We are currently in the aseret y'mei teshuvah, the ten days of repentance between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. During this time, we throw ourselves wholeheartedly into the process of relationship repair, self-improvement, and atonement. Who was I last year? What mistakes did I make that I need to seek to repair? How can i start the next year from a positive place, and how can I be the best me in 5783?
One of my favorite bands, Lake Street Dive, released a beautiful song a few years ago called, "I Can Change". They sing:
"Tracing an old pattern
Drawing the lines from where I am,
And from where I wanna be
Forget that old adage.
The history continues to
Keep us from the world we wanna see.
I am scared that I won't get it right
But fear won't rule my heart tonight
I can change, I can change, I can still change.
I can still change."
The line about fear hits me every time. I think fear is often what holds us back from being that best version of ourselves. Fear we won't get it right. Fear we won't be received well. Fear that it's too late. As we approach Yom Kippur, I think of the prophet Jonah, whose story we read on Yom Kippur afternoon. It is a story about free choice, sacrifice, mercy, kindness, and truth. It is a story that teaches that it is okay to change your mind and change your ways. Your actions of the past are important, but they do not define you. Can we change our ways? Yes. But it’s not always easy! Do we sometimes need time to reflect and think on our own before we make decisions? Yes. Can we learn from our mistakes? Yes. Jonah, God, and the People of Nineveh all have something to teach us, if we are willing to listen.
I wanted to share with you this lyric video for my song, Jonah. As we make our way towards Yom Kippur, may we find the strength and the courage to face our fears and truly change.
G'mar Chatimah Tovah,
Josh
Did you miss our past videos in this series?
Hineni - Rabbi Josh Warshawsky
And the Chaverai Nevarech Band
Tefillah - Rabbi Josh Warshawsky
And the Chaverai Nevarech Band
Shuvah - Rabbi Josh Warshawsky and the Chaverai Nevarech Band
Hayom Harat Olam - Rabbi Josh Warshawsky and the Chaverai Nevarech Band
Va'ani Tefilati - Yael Bettenhausen, Rabbi Josh Warshawsky, and the Chaverai Nevarech Band
Click to get ready for the High Holidays with The Praylist on Spotify!