Elul: The month of Elul calls us to look within, look back and look ahead – an accounting of the soul, often referred to as a cheshbon hanefesh.
The letters of the month ELUL alef, lamed, vav, lamed — stand for ani l’dodi, v’dodi li — I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine. An intimate and soulful way of looking at ourselves and the month ahead as we prepare and anticipate the High Holy Days stretched over the month of Tishri.
It would be a waste to turn up without this forethought. Our hope is about the year ahead. As the writer Rebecca Solnit suggests:
To be hopeful means to be uncertain about the future, to be tender toward possibilities, to be dedicated to change all the way down to the bottom of your heart.
Some of the pearls of thoughtfulness you’ll receive come from Craig Taubman’s pearls of Elul of preceding years, some from meaningful messages of others. Every day of Elul an email will arrive with a reflection and an invitation to reflect.
Go Well and feel free to ask me anything along the way.
Rabbi Rebecca
Copyright © 2024 Finchley Progressive Synagogue. All rights reserved. Website designed by Addicott Web. | Charity #1167285