Rabbi’s Message – August 30, 2022
This past Saturday night we entered the month of Elul, the Hebrew month preceding the High Holidays. The name of the month (spelled Alef-Lamed-Vav-Lamed) is said to be an acronym of “Ani l’dodi v’dodi li,” “I am my Beloved’s and my Beloved is mine,” a quote from Song of Songs 6:3. In Aramaic (the vernacular of the Jewish people in ancient times), the word “Elul” means “search,” which is fitting, because this is a time of year when we search our souls.
Elul is a time for Jews to begin the process of seeking forgiveness for wrongs done to other people. According to Jewish tradition, G-d cannot forgive us for sins committed against another person until we have first obtained forgiveness from the person we have wronged. This difficult process of seeking forgiveness begins in Elul, but continues through the Days of Awe. To boost our personal journeys, I offer this gift to you – an assortment of some of my favorite opportunities for self-reflection and sources of encouragement to do the work that is upon us.
1. Daily Reflections to Your Inbox
Sign-up for Jewels of Elul or Elul Unbound and receive great inspiration every day.
2. Reflective Writing
Lisa Feld created Spiritual Writing in Preparation for the High Holidays, that offers reflective writing prompts to help you begin journaling through this month.
3. Read a book related to the High Holidays
Why Religion? by Elaine Pagels
In Love by Amy Bloom
Everything Happens for a Reason and Other Lies I’ve Loved by Kate Bowler
This is Real and You Are Completely Unprepared by Alan Lew
Resoulutions: A Practical Guide for Self-Repair by Rabbi Heather Miller
The Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward by Daniel H Pink
From Strength to Strength by Arthur Brooks
Jonah and Meaning of Our Lives. By Rabbi Steven Bob
The Choice by Edith Eger
Lost and Found by Kathryn Schultz
Opening Your Heart with Psalm 27: A Spiritual Practice for the Jewish New Year by Debra Judith Robbins
The Book of Jonah: A Social Justice Commentary by Shmuly Yanklowitz
On Repentance and Repair by Danya Ruttenberg
1001 Ways to Live in the Moment by Barbara Ann Kipfer
4. Create your journey on social media
Participate in #BlogElul or #Elulgram
5. Listen to an Elul Playlist
Open your ears to the sounds of the holidays on a special curated playlist on Spotify: Elul and Beyond, Elul Songs, and Elul are my favorites.
6. Indulge in watching and listening to a short story
One of my favorites for this time of year is the story of “The Zax.”
7. Do some exploring on your own
Three other great websites help us to unpack our year and take the journey inward: Jewish Unpacked, Judaism Unbound, and Ritualwell
Whatever path you choose, I wish you you all a meaningful beginning to the season of our soul.
I plan to complete the book “Twelve Jewish Steps to Recovery” by Rabbi Kerry Olitzky. Karen, per your recommendation, I started reading it. I got about halfway so far. My goal is to finish it in the Month of Elul. I’ve been reading it slowly, because I really want to absorb its meaning deeply.
Sincerely and with kind regards,
Tom