The Four Weeks Of Elul: Week One - The Importance of Sacred Community in Difficult Times

Dear Friends,

I am writing this message on a plane en-route to Denver. This past week, I have been out of the country officiating at a wedding. As wonderful as it was to be celebrating a simcha in a beautiful location, the ongoing war in Israel and the recent horrific murders of 6 Israeli hostages cast a long shadow on our festivities.

A highlight of every Jewish wedding is the chanting of the words, “Soon may there be heard in the cities of Judah and the neighborhoods of Jerusalem – the song of joy and happiness, the voice of the bride and groom, the joyous celebrations of youth and the songs of children at play…”

I must confess, it was difficult to chant these ancient, hopeful words which speak of the longing to rejoice in our ancient homeland while parents were burying their children and Jews around the world were filled with grief and uncertainty. The joyous act of celebrating a wedding seemed incongruous considering the grief, anger, and fear that was once again kindled – as has repeatedly been the case - ever since the heinous attack on October 7^th. And yet, we did not refrain from our celebration. To have done so would have been improper. It would also have granted our enemies a small victory. When I chanted those words under the Chuppah (the wedding canopy), I spoke about our pain. When the glass was broken, I shared how our history has always been filled with both joy and brokenness. This is what we do as Jews. There is a famous teaching from the Talmud - tractate Ketubot, that instructs, “If a funeral procession and a wedding procession meet at an intersection, the wedding procession goes first.” As Ecclesiastes teaches: “To everything there is a season… a time to Mourn and a time to dance….”

As many of you know, on this Shabbat we will be culminating our year-long celebration of Temple Emanuel’s 150th Anniversary with a special Friday night service and gala celebration on Saturday night. We are justifiably proud of our congregation and its legacy, and we intend to carry on with our plans. And yet, we also understand the need to respond to the tragic events of this past week. As such, our services, in addition to celebrating our history, will also serve as a Shabbat of Solidarity with Israel and our entire community. Together we will mourn – and then we will rejoice. Saturday night’s gala will go on as planned, and on Sunday morning, at 10:00 am, we encourage everyone to attend the “Run for Their Lives” at Washington Park where our community will come together to show our support for Israel and share our pain.

As we contemplate the mixture of emotions we are feeling, we also want to acknowledge the sacred time of year into which we are now entering.

 

 

This past Wednesday, September 4th, marked the first day of the Hebrew month of Elul. It is customary during the four weeks that precede the High Holidays, to begin intensive personal preparations for the New Year. This process, called Cheshbon Ha-Nefesh – an inventory of our souls – requires that each of us engage in a process of self-examination. During this sacred season we look closely at our relationships, thoughts, deeds, fears and dreams. We do this so that we can enter the Yamim Noraim– the Days of Awe – spiritually and personally renewed and prepared for the process of teshuvah (repentance/returning).

Our tradition teaches that the month of Elul compels us to ask for forgiveness from those we have wronged over the course of the past year. We are also commanded to forgive those who ask us as well.

It has become our tradition at Temple Emanuel to focus on different aspects of our lives during the four weeks of Elul. Each week, a member of our Clergy Team will be sending out an message addressing our Communal, Interpersonal, Physical, and Spiritual Selves. Each message will begin with an introduction to the week’s theme, followed by 7 questions that we can ask ourselves. At each Friday Night Service we will address our comments and questions in our remarks.

Given the fact that the events of this past week have shaken us to the core, it is appropriate to focus this week’s questions around Community.

Most of us are part of multiple communities. Sometimes they intersect and sometimes they do not, but our ability to forge meaningful relationships with those with whom we share our lives is a vitally important aspect of our overall health.

As such, here are 7 questions to think about as we enter into this sacred month of Elul:

1. How has the tragedy of October 7^th and the war that has followed brought me closer to my community? How have these events distanced me from my community?
2. There are many people who are passionate about what is happening in Israel and Gaza – we do not all agree. How has this disagreement affected me personally? Has it changed the way I view my community?
3. Have I allowed the current divisive rhetoric so prevalent in the current US political climate to impact my relationships with people in my life who do not share my views?
4. Everywhere we look we see a rise in anti-Semitic and anti-Zionist rhetoric.  How has this affected my relationship with my community?
5. When I am at synagogue, have I done all that I can to make others feel welcomed in the same way that I want to feel welcome?
6. When asked to help support the important institutions in my community, have I given as much as I could or should?
7. How often have I allowed myself to retreat into my own bubble when I could have participated in activities that connect me to others in my community?

These questions are in no way complete.  They are designed to help all of us to begin the process of looking deep within ourselves and our souls as we enter into the month of Elul.

We want to hear from you. If you have thoughts questions, or comments about anything we encourage you to let us know.

May we all utilize these and all of our questions to help gain a better understanding of our communal selves.

L’Shanah Tovah,

 

Rabbi Joseph R. Black