20 Elul/21 Elul 5776

In respect for Shabbat and the many of us who choose to give our email a rest as well as ourselves, we are offering two Elul Thoughts--one for today and one for Shabbat.

Shabbat Shalom!

20 Elul/September 23
   
Elul is a time to acknowledge specific acts of wrongdoing as well as the more subtle ways of missing the mark – the times we hardened our hearts or held on to evil thoughts. We uncover a deeper truth about Judaism and our humanity when we not only focus on what we’ve done, but what we failed to do.
Each day there are acts of goodness that we can perform: a kind word, a little patience, a helping hand. The focus on sins and mistakes makes it possible to overlook the small things that we could and should be doing.
The issue, therefore, is not only our misdeeds, but apathy. Recalling and recounting our sins challenges us to change and grow, improve relationships and perform acts of kindness. It inspires us to be a mensch – a full human being.

(Inspired by Rabbi Irving Greenberg)


21 Elul/September 24

We need voices of doubt, wonder and faith to counteract voices of fear, division and despair. The Ner Tamid, the Eternal Light that graces many sanctuaries throughout the world, is a reminder that there is something greater in this universe than all of us combined. But the true brightness of that light is not in gazing upon it ourselves but in seeing its glimmer reflected in the eyes of a loved one and friend. That is when we realize that the light burns first from within. May we be each light to another… and banish the darkness.

19 Elul 5776

We all balance between the desire for familiarity and the yearning to change. Part of the art of life is to keep what is precious and to grow into what is daring and new. As we move toward the start of a new year through the twilight of the old, may we strive to more carefully find the balance between the comfortable and the exciting.

18 Elul 5776

The Service of the Kohen Gadol

In a folk tale adapted from, "The Dybbuk," Jewish people, places, holidays, and language are all deemed holier than all others. It describes the holy of holies in the Temple in Jerusalem, the high priest, Yom Kippur, and the name of God as the holiest among these categories, and then describes the combination of these four things:

...Once during the year, at a certain hour, these four supreme sanctities of the world were joined with one another. That was the Day of Atonement, when the high priest would enter the holy of holies and there utter the name of God....

Every spot where a person lifts eyes to heaven is a holy of holies. Everyone, having been created in the Divine image and likeness, is a high priest. Every day of a person's life is the Day of Atonement, and every word a person speaks with sincerity is the Holy Name of God.

(from "Yom Kippur Readings" edited by Rabbi Dov Peretz Elkins, 2005)

This is our task during the month of Elul. To make every moment, every word we utter, every place we step a moment of holiness.

17 Elul 5776

Many of us have experienced a fair share of pain and loss this year; still others have had much more. Difficulties, shadows and sorrow can be the frame that permits us to appreciate beauty and blessing. In the words of Rabbi Aharon of Apt: Darkness is the throne upon which light sits. As we reflect during these days of Elul upon our victories, may we also consider those low points along the journey, even as we infuse them with meaning and significance to better light our way forward.

16 Elul 5776

In the Talmud, Rava taught that when we are led in Judgment in the next world, we will be asked these questions:
·       Did you conduct your business honestly?
·       Did you set a time for study?
·       Did you leave a legacy for future generations?
·       Did you have hope in your heart?
·       Did you enjoy this world?
·       Were you the best you could be?
As we confront our mortality throughout the Days of Awe, these questions offer a focal point for reflection and meditation.

15 Elul 5776

"No one goes there nowadays, it's too crowded." - Yogi Berra

The story is told of a small mountain village in Europe many years ago.  In this village there was a nobleman with no children.  He was concerned about the legacy he would leave behind.  He spent a great deal of time contemplating his dilemma and, at last, decided to build the community a synagogue.  As this was his gift to the community, he spent many hours and a great sum of money working with the contractors, the designers and the builders to create the most magnificent synagogue anyone had ever seen. However, he sought no one's input or guidance.  He determined that no one would see the plans for the building until it was completed.

The project took a long time, much longer than anyone had planned.  At long last, the construction was finished.  The townspeople were excited and curious about what they would find upon entering their new synagogue.  When they came into the building for the first time, they marveled at the magnificence.  There were rooms of every shape and size, suitable for worship services, classes, meetings, parties, gatherings, and every other conceivable function.  And no one could ever remember so beautiful a sanctuary anywhere in the world!

As they looked around, however, someone noticed a seemingly obvious flaw in the design.  One of the townspeople asked, "Where are the lamps?"  Everyone looked around and, sure enough, nowhere in the entire building was a light or a lamp to be found.

The proud nobleman simply pointed out brackets that were strategically placed all along the walls throughout the synagogue. He then brought the people in close to him. He gave each family a lamp As he did so, he explained, "Whenever you come to the synagogue, I want you to bring your lamp, and light it.  When we are all here together, our synagogue will shine brightly.  But when you are not here, the lamp will remind you that some part of our building will be dark.  I have built for you the structure, but YOU must bring the light."

13/14 Elul 5776

In respect for Shabbat and the many of us who choose to give our email a rest as well as ourselves, we are offering two Elul Thoughts--one for today and one for Shabbat.

Shabbat Shalom!

13 Elul/September 16

To be Jewish today is to recognize that every person is created in the image of God and that our purpose in living is to be a reminder of God…. We must be sensitive to the pain of all human beings. We cannot remain indifferent to human suffering, whether in other countries or in our own cities and towns. The mission of the Jewish people has never been to make the world more Jewish, but to make it more human.
(Elie Wiesel)

14 Elul/September 17

Attitude is a skill – By Seth Godin

You can learn math. French. Bowling.
You can learn Javascript, too.
But you can also learn to be more empathetic, passionate, focused, consistent, persistent and twenty-seven other attitudes.
If you can learn to be better at something, it's a skill.
And if it's a skill, it's yours if you want it.
Which is great news, isn't it?