“The More Mysterious Life”: Jewish High Holiday liturgy, Leonard Cohen songs, and Geraldine Brooks’ new novel

September 16, 2015 · by JS Epstein | in Book Reviews, Poets/ Poetry/ Performances | tagged " David and Bathseba, " Torah, Abraham and Isaac, Geraldine Brooks, Geraldine Brooks' The Secret Chord, Jewish and Moslem versions of the Abraham sacrifice story, Leonard Cohen, Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah, Leonard Cohen's "The Story of Isaac, Leonard Cohen's "Who by Fire?", Liturgy and song, Psalms and songs, Rosh Hashanah, Songs that inspire books, Songs that tell stories, The prophet Natan, The Unetaneh Tokef, Yom Kippur | 6 Comments

As summer turns to fall, the season rolls into a celebration of Jewish holidays, one stacked upon another. This week is Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year, and it begins a ten day period known as the days of repentance. A traditional prayer, the Unetaneh Tokef, said during both Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, acknowledges […]