Who By Fire, Who By Water: Un'taneh Tokef - Tapa blanda

The most controversial prayer of the Jewish New Year - what it means, who wrote it, why we say it. Explore the profound, perplexing and persuasive power of Un'taneh Tokef , one of the most beloved, prominent and controversial pieces in the Ashkenazi High Holy Day liturgy. Interact with thought-provoking and inspiring discussions on all aspects of this prayer that defies easy understanding - its moral challenge, fatalistic theology, proclamation of God's holiness, call to human responsibility and prescription for redemption. Commentaries from over forty men and women, scholars and rabbis, artists and poets from all major Jewish denominations examine Un'taneh Tokef from the viewpoints of the ancient Rabbis and modern theologians, as well as halakhic, Talmudic, linguistic, biblical, mystical, feminist, community and personal perspectives.

""Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman, PhD, has served for more than three decades as professor of liturgy at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York. He is a world-renowned liturgist and holder of the Stephen and Barbara Friedman Chair in Liturgy, Worship and Ritual. His work combines research in Jewish ritual, worship and spirituality with a passion for the spiritual renewal of contemporary Judaism. He has written and edited many books, including May God Remember: Memory and Memorializing in Judaism-Yizkor, We Have Sinned: Sin and Confession in Judaism-Ashamnu and Al Chet, Who by Fire, Who by Water-Un'taneh Tokef and All These Vows-Kol Nidre, the first four volumes in the Prayers of Awe series; the My People's Prayer Book: Traditional Prayers, Modern Commentaries series, winner of the National Jewish Book Award; and he is coeditor of My People's Passover Haggadah: Traditional Texts, Modern Commentaries (all Jewish Lights), a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award. Rabbi Hoffman is a developer of Synagogue 3000, a transdenominational project designed to envision and implement the ideal synagogue of the spirit for the twenty-first century.""