Notes from Cantor Avima

I think that if there were a top 10 all time hits of the High Holidays, Avinu Malkeinu would be #1. The "Avinu Malkeinu" that is sung is actually the last verse culminating a series of pleas to God. These pleas are inserted to our prayer between the shacharit (morning) Amidah and the Torah service on Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, the ten days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur as well as on all other fast days throughout the year. It is repeated several times throughout Yom Kippur including the very end of the day - Neilah. 

The text itself dates all the way back to the 10th century. We begin with the statement: "Avinu Malkeinu (Our Father/parent, Our King, we have sinned against you) and it continues with a variety of pleas (about 25-30) asking God for forgiveness, protection, safety and security.. We are literally pleading our case by begging, using  every possible argument... if not for our sake, then for the sake who died to sanctify you, or for the sake of our children, etc... It is almost a synopsis of Jewish history with pleas about evil decrees, asking to foil the plans of our enemies, informers and slanderers. Finally, almost resigned, we ask God to : "answer us though we have no deeds to plead our cause; save us with mercy and lovingkindess. 

In this Youtube, you will hear a beautiful, possibly chassidic melody for the second line of the prayer which is "Avinu Malkeinu, we have no King but You." Avinu Malkeinu, Avraham Fried

There a beautiful setting, composed by Max Janowski in 1951. It uses the abbreviated text as it appears in the reform machzor (High Holiday Prayerbook). The melody builds up until reaching a crescendo with the final verse. It is a mainstay in Reform and many Conservative congregations. It was made even more famous by Barbara Streisand. Avinu Malkeinu, Max Janowski HaZamir

Finally, if you would like to review the folk melody, please use this link to navigate to my recording on our own website. You will find Avinu Malkeinu in the menu of High Holiday melodies. There is also an accompanying PDF of transliterations.For me the power of the prayer is in the strength of the voices singing together. Join the "choir"!  Avinu Malkeinu Folk melody