Elul 2024
In Anticipation of 5785
At the button below is a 29-day calendar guide that contains a teaching and introspection for each day of Elul beginning at sundown on Tuesday, September 3. Our hope is that this guide will help each of us to tap into the power of Elul; to do as the father of my oldest friend was known to say – to search for and clean out our spiritual schmutz; to enable us to improve our relationship with God; to strengthen and heal our relationships; to awaken to the wisdom all around us; and to prepare for starting the New Year with renewed vigor, spirit and a deeper understanding of ourselves, our loved ones, and our sisters and brothers.
At the back end of the 29-Day Guide, you will find 16 journaling questions. For those who enjoy this process, we encourage you to select one or two each week that resonate with you and journal your thoughts. Journaling can be a valuable way to build awareness and sensitivity to our inner worlds and the world around us, and you will have those writings to look back on as the year unfolds.
The teaching for week one is Gratitude. Gratitude is viewed by many as the key to opening the heart so that we can experience life to its fullest as God intended; and that a heart softened by gratitude is a heart that rejoices in the giving and receiving that is experienced from practicing generosity.
Listening holds a very special place in Judaism. Our expression of faith in one God, the Shema, contains the words: “Hear O Israel, Adonai is our God, Adonai is One.” When we recite this prayer that calls for us to “Hear”, it is our practice to close or cover our eyes and eliminate all distraction so that we can affirm the truth of the solemn prayer we are reciting.
Patience is not easy work. It requires significant self-restraint to avoid reacting impulsively. Patience is also a spiritual state, calling us to cultivate a deeper sense of self-awareness. By nurturing this awareness, we become better equipped to accept what we can’t control and catch impatience early, while it is still percolating to the surface, and nip it in the bud. Many people believe that Patience is the most important virtue and point to the fact that the first teaching in Pirkei Avot, ethical teachings from our Rabbinic tradition, is for us to be patient in judgment. In fact, the great teacher, Hillel, showed us time and time again the importance of connecting with others without judgment and with great patience.
Week 4: Reflection
More to come