At this time of the Jewish year, we hear many references to God deciding who will live and who will die...and if we are chosen to die, how that might happen. In the Unetanah Tokef prayer we read:
On Rosh Hashanah it is inscribed,
And on Yom Kippur it is sealed.
How many shall pass away and how many shall be born,
Who shall live and who shall die,
Who shall reach the end of his days and who shall not,
Who shall perish by water and who by fire,
Who by sword and who by wild beast,
Who by famine and who by thirst,
Who by earthquake and who by plague,
Who by strangulation and who by stoning,
Who shall have rest and who shall wander,
Who shall be at peace and who shall be pursued,
Who shall be at rest and who shall be tormented,
Who shall be exalted and who shall be brought low,
Who shall become rich and who shall be impoverished.
But repentance, prayer and righteousness avert the severe decree.
Yesterday, on our way home we saw a fire. A Pacific Gas and Electric natural gas line exploded in San Bruno, CA, at around 6:15 PM. At least four people were killed and over 50 people were hospitalized.
Someone we spoke to just 30 minutes before had heard about the explosion and fire on the news. His house was in that area. Did God spare him?
At least 45 homes were destroyed and over 120 more were damaged.
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