K’dushat haShem

When the curtain lifts on kedushat hashem, we find ourselves onstage inside two ancient mystical texts: Isaiah’s visionary journey to the celestial throne-room, filled with fiery six-winged seraphim singing “Holy, Holy, Holy!” [Isaiah 6:3] and Ezekiel’s vision of a wheeling, spinning, shimmering chariot carried by chayot/beasts with four faces, crying out “Blessed is the glory of God from His place!”  [Ezekiel 3:12]

       In the kedushah, the liturgist-playwright transforms our synagogue into the cosmic throne-room.  We and our friends become the seraphim and the chayot, crying out the words that blazed in the minds of the visionary prophets.

        Isaiah’s mystical journey to God’s throne room also contains a call to action.

       In his vision, Isaiah feels the pillars of the throne-room swaying and cries out “Woe is me!,” terrified by what he sees and by his own inadequacy.  Then a seraph flies toward him and touches his mouth with a burning coal.  When he next hears the King asking “Who shall go for us?” the prophet replies “Here I am.  Send me.”