Leon Bridges song River has been in my head for most of Elul as I try to prepare myself for the High Holidays. It seems a perfect song for Tashlich. I hope you enjoy it and find it deeply moving too.
Wishing everyone a Happy Healthy 5778, may it be a year filled with blessings.
L’Shana Tova!
This strikes me as seriously christocentric. Baptism, which is referenced in the lyrics, has differences from tashlich that cannot be reconciled.
The song is a beautiful melody with stirring lyrics. And yes, it does reference baptism- but I suggest that one can see beyond the differences and find the powerful meaning behind the deep desire to cleanse from sin of which our faith speaks at this time.
Water is cleansing in almost all faiths….and while it has the sound of a southern baptist hymn there is no reason it cant apply to the cleansing we experience as Jews. I love this song as well as many gospel hymns that are not directly “christcentric” as they speak of strength and faith and hope, all relevant to me as a Jew. Thanks for posting this it’s one of my fav tunes by LB. 😉
Oh and baptism is borrowed from the immersion in the mikveh – so there is a correlation.