These weeks call on us to imagine our communities as ‘Agudat Echat’. One body, united and together. It’s good to see the Board offers such thoughtful protection. We are in anguish right now, so these weeks of consolation and comfort are needed pretty desperately.
We are in the six weeks before Rosh Hashanah now. Monday 25th will be the start of Elul. We are invited to let the walls of our souls crumble and the first glimmers of opening and breaking apart, necessary for the pre Rosh Hashanah cycle, begin. I began such a process in the most unlikely of places, on a tiny island in Finland’s archipelago, while on a meditation and yoga retreat designed to stretch our hearts wide open. And I did in anticipation of these 6 weeks – the journey which our calendar takes us to try to let the unsolved elements of our lives be solved.
This week’s portion, Eikev, reminds us that suffering accompanies us. Apparently, our clothes didn’t wear out and our feet didn’t swell during those 40 years in the desert and from that we know that times can be incredibly hard and we can access resilience. We show up even when it’s hard. I am so aware that many of you are navigating great loss and illness right now and I hope the softness of this moment in our calendar lends itself to comfort.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rebecca
Copyright © 2025 Finchley Progressive Synagogue. All rights reserved. Website designed by Addicott Web. | Charity #1167285