Blog

17 Elul 5783 | September 3, 2023
Balancing Act
Rabbi Michael Weinstein
When you talk about and reflect upon an evil deed you have done, you become the captive of your thoughts – all your soul is utterly caught up in the evil, for you are what you think. And then you are prevented from turning, for your spirit will coarsen, your heart grow infirm, and, in addition, melancholy may disable you. After all, if you stir filth this way or that, it is still filth. What is the use of weighing and measuring our sins? In the time I am brooding on this, I could be stringing pearls for the joy of heaven. That is why it is written: “Depart from evil, and do good” (Psalm 34:15) – turn wholly from evil, do not brood about it, and do good. You have done wrong? Then balance it by doing right.

-19th century Chasidic tale, reprinted from Gates of Repentance

___
In your Elul self-reflections, think of a moment from this past year when you felt proud of yourself. Perhaps you are reflecting on a situation in which some special aspect of yourself was expressed. This need not be a grandiose moment of achievement; it may be a small, quiet, subtle chance moment. In this reflection, tell the story, describe the situation, and allow the details to return to you in all their fullness. Reflect on why/how the best part of you came out in that situation. How may you be that fully realized, special “you” more often in the coming year?

18 Elul 5783 | September 4, 2023
Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker
As the Days of Awe approach, we ask, “Who am I?” 
 
Before we respond to this profound question, let’s appreciate that how we might answer is greatly impacted by our society and culture. Joseph Heinrich explains in, “The WEIRDest People in the World,” that WEIRD people: (Western, Educated, Industrial, Rich, Democratic), tend to respond to that question by sharing one’s profession or character traits. “Who am I?” - “I’m an accountant,” or “I’m passionate and creative.” The question is about me – it’s a question about my story.
 
Heinrich points out that people from non-WEIRD cultures tend to answer the same question quite differently. “Who am I?” - “I’m the child of these parents,” or “I’m a member of this clan/tribe.” A traditional Jewish name – our name, child of our parents, and sometimes our tribe – reflects that orientation. In such societies, the question is not about “me.” It’s about how I am a part of something bigger than myself – a family, a community, a People.
 
As we do the work of cheshbon hanefesh – taking account of our souls – this kind of awareness can help us transform our reflections. We should reflect on our individual deeds and actions. We should reflect on our relationships and the ways we allow our obligations to others impact our lives. We should reflect on our values – both individual and communal – and how well we live them. This change, this expansion of mind, can more fully help us prepare as we ask ourselves, “Who am I?” 

19 Elul 5783 | September 5, 2023
Rabbi Harry Rosenfeld
Martin Buber, in his book Between Man and Man, tells a story of a student who came to him. Buber admits that while he paid attention to the student, after the student dies, he “failed to guess the questions which he did not put.” He goes on to write that from that experience:
 
“I have given up the search for religious experience which is outside normal life: the exception, extraction, exaltation, ecstasy; or it has given me up. I possess nothing but the everyday out of which I am never taken. The only mystery in life that is available to us is here where real life happens. Every moment of life is full of claim and responsibility.
 
Religion belongs to all moments. It is simply living all moments open to the possibility of dialogue.”
 
The great philosopher and religious Jew came to understand that while setting aside time to find and experience the Divine, if we pay attention, we will find true “religion” in our everyday life that we can find transcendence.
 
Martin Buber's experience changed him to his very core. During this month of Elul, think of the experiences in your life that have changed you to your very core and in what ways you need to continue to change.

20 Elul 5783 | September 6, 2023
Cantor David Berger
Rabbi Jacob Moelin (~1355-1427), known as the Maharil, was the leading expert on Jewish custom in 15th century Germany, when conditions were difficult and Jewish communities struggled to keep tradition alive. The Maharil taught that there is always a way.
Asked if an ill prepared Torah reader might chant from a book while another follows along in the scroll, the Maharil immediately affirms that solution (New Responsa #23) and goes further. What about, he ponders, when this unprepared reader faces a flawed Torah scroll? Surely that would prevent the community from reading Torah. Not so, he decries, “since our Torah scrolls are not made properly as there is not, these days, a human being sufficiently proficient in the minutia of Hebrew spelling.” The Maharil invokes a radical rabbinic principle based on a deliberate mistranslation of Psalm 119:126 (“Time to act for God – your law is being broken”). “Time to act for God,” he says – “Break your Torah!” The sacred act of Torah reading is more important than slavish adherence to rules – so bring your unprepared reader to your flawed scroll and make it work.
Our chaotic world gives us ample reasons to give up and let go of our precious traditions. But this is when we must say, “Time to act!” and do what is right.
Let us take up the Maharil’s determination to do our best no matter the circumstances, fill our lives with gratitude, our homes with Jewish celebration, and our communities with hope for a better tomorrow.

21 Elul 5783 | September 7, 2023
Why am I doing this?
Rabbi Alan Litwak
On the bulletin board above my desk, I have a small handwritten card:
Why am I doing this?
Why am I doing this?
Why am I doing this?
Figuring out why we do things, if we are the correct person to do them, and whether this is the correct thing to do,  goes a long way towards helping us make necessary changes in WHAT we do.

On Fridays, we email two Elul Thoughts, out of respect for those of us who choose not to look at email on Shabbat. We wish you a blessed and restful Shabbat and hope you continue finding inspiration in our Elul Thoughts.

22 Elul 5783 | September 8, 2023
Cantor Laurie Weinstein
Confucius taught, “To put the world in order, first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, put the family in order; to put the family in order, first cultivate our personal life; and to cultivate our personal life, first set our hearts right.”

Elul awakens us to delve into the deepest recesses of our minds while preparing us to examine the year gone by through chesbon hanefesh, an accounting of the soul. How might we “set our hearts right?” The liturgy sets us on the pathway to achieving this, but reciting only the words has no effect if we refuse to change course. 

Change is difficult but no change in course will result in destruction. No panacea exists for changing course, except for the will of the spirit. The will of spirit emerges from study, questioning, and wrestling, individually and in community. We investigate our past for clues about ourselves, and we are continually working toward future days. Yet, we are in a constant state of awareness. We must dwell in the present moment and hold ourselves accountable for decisions we make individually and collectively.

By living in the present, we receive strength to be aware when we begin to veer off course. We are human and will fall short, but each day is a new day in creation where we can strive to be closer to the Divine life with which we are blessed. This Elul may we set our hearts right.

23 Elul 5783 | September 9, 2023
Rabbi Erin Boxt
One of the most important themes of the month of Elul is: Selichot - what does this mean? It means forgiveness. As we ponder and reflect on our accomplishments and challenges of the previous year, we also look ahead asking God for forgiveness.  When we think of forgiveness, many images come to mind - one image, purity is represented in many ways in Judaism.  What can we do during this time of deep reflection to make sure we change our behaviors for the better in the new year to come? How do we change from impure to pure? One of our holy rituals is to change our Torah covers to all white, reflecting the images of purity and forgiveness.  As the month of Elul is flying by – leading us to the Jewish new year of 5784, let the images of white and purity allow you to come to the High Holy Days with a clear mind, focused on making yourself the best you can be in the upcoming year.