Of What Use Is Poetry?

A month ago Jews celebrated Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. The day is the holiest one of the Jewish year: It recognizes that one must look at one’s self and what one has done not only through the past year, but all through one’s life. I’m not a particularly religious guy. I go to Yom Kippur services because my mother, and her parents, did. One of the prayers at the start of this holy day is the Sh’ma koleinu , which begins, “Hear our call, Adonai our God. Show us compassion. Accept our prayer with love and goodwill.” Later in the prayer, the words directed at God say, “Do not cast us away w

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