by Melanie Gruenwald
This ten-day period between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur is often referred to as “The Days of Awe.” In Hebrew, this is expressed as “Yamim Noraim” (יָמִים נוֹרָאִים)
How do we understand this word, nora נורא?
In the bible, nora appears as awesome, or awe-inspiring—As in, “how inspiring is this place?” We see a new baby, a sunset, or a majestic view- and we experience awe, wonder, humility. Nora.
However, in modern Hebrew—nora has a negative connotation— It is translated as “terrible or awful.” The movie was awful. It was a horrible experience.
How do we reconcile the seemingly conflicted meanings of the same word? Is nora awe-inspiring or fear-inducing?
For me, these days of nora are a bit of both.
This past week, I had the opportunity to engage in nora– awe-filled, meaningful and spiritual prayer services with a beautiful, welcoming community. I spent time in the mountains with my son, kvelling as he mountain bikes. We visited local hot springs, and appreciated the beauty and privilege of living in Colorado. How awe-some in this place, is this life….Nora.
I also internalized the nora– aw-ful terribleness of October 7, and I experienced the grief of the past year unraveling in my core. I reflected on October 7, 2023- the fear, the unknown—the hope, anger, fear, and awful destruction of this past year. These days of nora, I carry the lump in my throat, the stone in my gut, as I sit in the “now,” recognizing the weight of these days, and reflecting on personal and universal pain of this past year.
Like light and darkness, awe and fear are both complementary and oppositional. We don’t have one without the other.
As we head into Yom Kippur, a day of deep prayer and reflection, my hope is that we find ways to carry nora throughout the year. May we be blessed to experience the full-range of nora, in all of its messiness. May the edges of the awful nora, be softened by the awe-filled nora. And may we come together in times of hope and grief, joy and sorrow, and know that we can and will move forward together in community.
Please join us for awe-some Yom Kippur services at Kabbalah Experience this weekend.
