Bringing an Ancient Sacred Poem to Life
In the Yom Kippur evening service there’s a beautiful poem called “Like Clay in the Hand of the Potter (כי הנה כחומר).” My dad, of blessed memory, introduced it to me around fifty years ago.
While there are some educated guesses about the country and century in which the poem was written, the author remains anonymous. In each stanza the writer introduces a new art form.
Here’s the parade of artists : potter, stone mason, blacksmith, sailor at the helm, glazier, draper, and silversmith. The recurring chorus is a plea to God: Remember Your covenant, don’t heed the accuser.
Several years ago, I happened upon an idea – to create a new focus to Selichot and the coming new year by bringing in a new artisan each year (following the lead of the poet) and learn some artful Torah up close and personal, and think metaphorically about ourselves, about fragility and resilience and community.
Each artist has enriched our community by bringing fresh artistic perspectives to the ancient poem’s words. I’d like to think that the poet (and my dad) would be pleased. We’re most of the way through the poem’s powerful stanzas.
Up next: “we are like the helm in the hand of the sailor.”
– Rabbi Aaron
