1 Elul
I just spoke to Ezra on the phone. He is walking around the Golan Heights with a couple from BJBE about to take a jeep ride. The Golan is packed with Israeli vacationers. In fact, many of you are just about to grab the last moments of summer for time away, time with family, time to organize your homes, time to move to a different home, time to enjoy the summer air. Time is what we have. It is precious. We should pay careful attention with how we use the time we have. To think, to accomplish, to give, to aspire, to rest, to run, to care, to love.
Today is the first day of the Jewish month of Elul. Traditionally this entire month before the High Holidays is spent saying prayers of forgiveness. Elul is an acronym for the famous line from the Song of Songs in the bible I am my beloved and my beloved is mine. So, though you are busy, and I am busy, I thought we would engage in the spiritual practice of contemplating love, forgiveness, and purpose during this month. Today is day one... Rosh Hodesh Elul. Do something kind for someone today and spend a moment to think of how you are kind to yourself. And consider this from Jonathan Wittenberg in his beautiful book The Eternal Journey: "Three gifts-three faculties -are given to us to draw us toward God. Our conscience knows right from wrong. Our heart feels love. Our soul makes us susceptible to wonder and awe."
Rabbi Karyn D. Kedar