How to spend the Yamim Noraim

A guest post by Al Knight.

Sometimes you come across a concept that takes your breath away in it's power and simplicity and such was the case this last week when a friend of mine told me about a friend of their's (I am not zochah to know such people directly) that is going on a Rosh Hashanah/Yom Kippur cruise. That's correct, read it again and roll it around your head for a while. A Rosh Hashanah/Yom Kippur cruise.

Here we are worrying what kind of cover we can put on our copy of The God Delusion so we can have it in our talis bags to while away the hours while these people are worried what to wear at the swim break between shachris and mussaf.

I probed for a few details on the background of the people going and it seems they would be found in that "sweet spot" of Judiasm. Right of Conservadox and left of LW MO and they seem to be going in some official capacity (i.e. hired by the organization running the cruise).

This morning I Googled and sure enough:

"Princess Cruises provides clergy for several religious holidays, including a midnight Christmas service, Passover, Easter, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Hanukkah. For those of the Jewish faith, the Rabbi requests special foods for a formal dinner gala, separate from the regular dining room. Formal evening wear is requested."

and

"Californians Geri and Al Margolin cruised on the Crystal Symphony during Yom Kippur. They were delighted when a Rabbi conducted services, and an elaborate break the fast was served after the 24-hour fast observing the day of atonement. The couple were pleased that they could take advantage of the special fare for this cruise and still fulfill the covenants of their religion. "

And

Religious Services:

Princess provides Catholic, Jewish and Protestant services on the following religious holidays: Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday, Easter, Christmas, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Passover and Chanukah. In addition, interdenominational services are conducted every Sunday usually by an officer of the ship.


So may you have a good year and an easy fast while you imagine what you would do on a Yamim Noraim cruise.

Al Knight