Elul 16

Abraham argued to save strangers in the city of Sodom; Noah built a boat to save himself and his family. In Jewish folklore Noah became a tzaddik im peltz, ‘a righteous man in a fur coat’. There are two ways of keeping warm on a cold night: buying a fur coat or lighting a fire. Don't care only for yourself; shuck the coat and light a fire.

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Commit yourself during the month to “lighting a fire” for somebody in need.  Perhaps the person is a mentee, or works with you, or is a member of your family.  Often, we need not look beyond our routines to find somebody in need.

Elul 15

People are accustomed to looking at the Heavens and wondering what happens there.  It would be better if they would look within themselves to see what happens there.

Rabbi Menachem Mendl of Kotsk

Typically we think of prayer like Rabbi Menachem Mendl of Kotsk refers to in his first statement.  We think of it as outpouring—calling out to God, often unanswered.  The word “to pray” in Hebrew is Lehit’palel.  This is a reflexive verb, meaning there is a give and take implied within the word itself.  “To pray” in Hebrew is to look inward, to receive as well as to pour out.

Try to think about what you receive when you pray, as well as what you give.

Elul 14

People can only learn what their heart desires. (Babylonian Talmud, Avodah Zarah 19a)

Desire or lip service do not serve us well when focusing on the act of Teshuvah (turning ourselves). That drive, that devotion is actualized when we feel it at our core, and ready ourselves to stay the course. There are many moments in our lives when we have already committed ourselves (i.e. long meetings and work hours, regular temptations we fight against).These are the moments where we teach ourselves about our true desires and commitments. The prophet Jeremiah instructed the Israelites to circumcise their hearts, so that they would always be faithful and in covenant with God. So, too, with our passions, our hopes, and our desires.

Identify those passions and desires in your life. For extra credit, make it a dialogue with God!

Elul 13

Right now, we are in the month of Elul, the month before the new year of Rosh Hashanah. The 28 days of the month provide a chance for a sort of ‘spiritual calisthenics,’ as we prepare for the 10 holy days that include Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

Our rabbis teach us that we are supposed to do teshuvah the day before we die. Of course, we don’t know when that day is, and so we challenge ourselves to perform acts of teshuvah every day. But as we know, this is easier said than done.

And so, we have this month as an extra push of motivation.

Many of you are probably familiar with the famous line from Song of Songs, Ani l’dodi v’dodi li:I am for my beloved, and my beloved is for me. The first letter of these four words spell out this month of Elul (alef, lamed, vav, lamed.)

This teaches that teshuvah is all about our relationships - relationships we have to each other, to God and to ourselves. If indeed I am for others, and others are for me, this month provides a time to think about how our behavior(s) affect others. And change in the process.

Elul 12

Rabbi Simcha Bunim taught that every person should carry two pieces of paper, one in each pocket: in one pocket "For me the world was created." and in the other "I am but dust and ashes." When we have moments of self loathing take out the first; in moments of grandiosity the second. Our souls are poised between greatness and nothingness; in knowing both are we blessed.

 

Try putting these two pieces of paper in your pockets for the next week.  How does it impact your decision making?  How does it affect your perspective?

Elul 11

“Do you think,” [the Scarecrow] asked, “if I go to the Emerald City with you that Oz would give me some brains?”

“I cannot tell,” [Dorothy] returned, “but you may come with me, if you like.  If Oz will not give you any brains you will be no worse off than you are now.”

- L. Frank Baum, The Wizard of Oz

In The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy takes three friends (and Toto, too) on a “whirlwind” journey to meet Oz.  The book’s powerful story relates to us on many levels.  Like Dorothy, we must keep our goals in mind as we travel on our path.  Like her companions, we must acknowledge our shortcomings so that we can improve upon them.  We are most successful when we travel in partnership, relying on the comfort and strength that we get from our friends and family.  When we reach our destination, we often find that we have always had the power to achieve our goals.

So too can we achieve our goals during the High Holy Days that approach when Elul ends.  We have a destination in mind: teshuvah.  We acknowledge our shortcomings through S’lichot and making atonement.  We feel the closeness of our community when we gather in prayer.  And by the end of Yom Kippur we may realize that to achieve our goals, we have always had the tools we need to accomplish them.  Only through making the journey together can we learn from the experience.

Elul 10

Just as the hand, held before the eye, can hide the tallest mountain, so can the routine of everyday life keep us from seeing the vast radiance and the secret wonders that fill the world. [Chasidic saying, 18th Century]

Each day, we are charged with the task of “living life”. We know that routines are part of that daily ritual, but without even realizing, they can become familiar and comfortable. There are even those who seem to find security in predictability. It’s true that routines can seem to bring some measure of order to life which can otherwise feel disorderly. Like most things, they provide advantages and disadvantages. A routine is beneficial as long as it serves you, and not so good when it “rules you”. They may even feel so familiar and convenient that we may overlook opportunities to see the vast radiance of life.

Routines are about what one needs to accomplish (we call this keva-fixed). Daily life is about how we live that life, and have the potential to be (we call this kavannah – intention). We were not created to be creatures of mindless habit. Rather, we are here for wondrous purpose. In Jeremiah, we learn: “For I know the plans I have for you ... to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11). While being diligent and disciplined today, let us savor the joy, learn the discipline of our routines, and avoid the ruts.

Over the past year, what are those fixed routines in your life that have left you uninspired? How can you enhance those routines and find the wonder and radiance in that which we call life?