Shi’ur on Unetane Tokef by Yehiel Poupko

Unetane Tokef is surely one of our most dramatic and awesome Tefillot. At the same time, it is also one of the most misunderstood Tefillot. For but one example, its ultimate declaration ותשובה ותפילה וצדקה מעבירין את רוע הגזרה is taken to mean that Teshuva, Tefilla, and Tsedeka avert, prevent, block, deter the difficult or harsh decree that might await us in the coming year. That is incorrect. The fact is that the Rabbinic Paytan (Unetane Tokef was not written in the Middle Ages in Ashkenaz) altered three Rabbinic texts to produce this culminating phrase. The three Rabbinic texts on which that phrase is based read either mevatlin-anull or m’kar’in-tear up the harsh decree. Why does the author of Unetane Tokef substitute ma’averin? What does ma’averin mean? And how does the Tefilla of Chana influence Unetane Tokef?

To find out, please join me on Wednesday morning, August 19, on Zoom from 9:00am to 9:45 am. Registration is required to attend! Register below to get the zoom link and study text.