Four Weeks of Elul 5776 Week Three: Personal and Professional Relationships

Dear Friends,

In the beginning of the Book of Genesis 2:18, God states, “It is not good for Humans to be alone.”  This profound statement teaches us the importance of relationships.  Each of us is involved in many different kinds of relationships – from families and loved ones, to work associates, to acquaintances we see only occasionally.  Our tradition teaches that every person with whom we come in contact reminds us of the fact that all humanity is created in the image of God.  As such, all of our interactions with others – from the most intimate to the merely mundane – contain the potential for holiness.  If we approach them from this perspective, maintaining healthy relationships takes on a sacred dimension.

Our tradition teaches that on Yom Kippur the sins we have committed against God will be forgiven if we are truly repentant. The sins we commit against others, however, cannot be forgiven unless and until we have asked those whom we have wronged to forgive us.   In many ways, this is one of the most difficult aspects of Cheshbon Ha-nefesh – taking an inventory/accounting of our souls.  It means that we have to take risks by reaching out to others.  We may encounter resistance, anger, or resentment.  Sometimes it is impossible to reach out to others – and yet, it is our duty to do all that we can to assess whether or not reconciliation is possible.  If there is even the slightest hope then we need to try - even if we fail.

The following questions are designed to make us think about the current status of the many different relationships in our lives.   Again, this is by no means a complete list.  Hopefully it will provide you with a starting point for improving the relationships in your lives.

1.      Have I taken part in any business or personal transactions this past year that were against my religious, moral or ethical principles?

2.      Have I ignored or been impatient with those I love the most?

3.      Are there people I have wronged that I need to ask to forgive me?

4.      Will I be able to forgive those who come to me to ask for my forgiveness?

5.      Have I taken time recently to let the most important people in my life know how much I care about them?

6.      Have I done all that I could to repair damaged relationships in my life?

7.      How have my actions towards others influenced their opinions of me?

Again, these questions are in no way complete.  If answering any of them causes you to want to speak to one of the Temple clergy, Rabbi Immerman, Cantor Sacks and I would welcome the opportunity.  Note that all of these materials will also be available in hard copy at the Temple Office. If you know of anyone else who might want to receive these mailings – whether or not they are members of the congregation, contact the Temple and we will send them to you.

L’shanah Tovah U’metukah – May you have a good and sweet new year,

Rabbi Joseph R. Black

Four Weeks of Elul 5773 - Week 3: Personal and Professional Relationships

Dear Friends,

 

Last week, I wrote about the importance of community. This week, I want us to focus on the individual relationships we share that are the backbone of creating a Kehillah Kedosha - a sacred community.

 

Martin Buber, in his classic work, I and Thou, teaches that there are two basic types of human relationships: “I-It” and “I-Thou”. An “I-It”relationship is one in which we interact with others for the purpose of gaining something. This can take place in the arena of commerce, entertainment or any other experience where we interact with others on a daily basis. An “I-It” relationship is not necessarily a bad thing: the majority of our relationships are this type. When I go to the store to purchase an article of clothing and I hand the sales person the required money, we have had an “I-It” relationship. When I work on a project with a co-worker, this too can often be an "I-It" interaction. Of course, these relationships have the potential to be destructive and manipulating –especially when we use them for the purpose of our own gain at the expense or hurt of others.

An “I-Thou” relationship, on the other hand, is not about business, personal or professional gain. It is the purest (and rarest) of all connections. According to Buber, when we come in contact with another person as a“Thou,” we experience the essential holiness of their soul. “I-Thou” relationships become the template for experiencing God in the world.

 

This time of Cheshbon Ha-nefesh (soul searching) during the month of Elul gives us an opportunity to examine the central relationships in our lives. Almost everything we do involves other people. We have different kinds of relationships: personal, professional, romantic and platonic. And yet, all of our dealings with others – both “I-It” and “I-Thou” - have the potential for holiness. The Torah teaches that every person is created in the image of God. How we treat others must reflect this awareness.

 

The Mishnah teaches that on Yom Kippur the sins we have committed against God will be forgiven if we are truly repentant. The sins we commit against others, however, cannot be forgiven unless and until we have asked those whom we have wronged to forgive us. In many ways, this is one of the most difficult aspects of Cheshbon Ha-nefesh. It means that we have to take risks by reaching out to others. We may encounter resistance, anger, or resentment. Sometimes it is impossible to reach out to others – and yet, it is our duty to do all that we can to assess whether or not reconciliation is possible. If there is a slightest hope –then we need to try – even if we fail.

 

The following questions are designed to help us think about the current status of the many different relationships in our lives. Again, this is by no means a complete list. Hopefully it will provide you with a starting point for improving the relationships in your lives.

 

1. Have I been able to see the holiness in those closest to me?

 

2. Are there people I have wronged to from whom I need to ask forgiveness?

 

3. Do I have the strength to take the risk of asking those whom I have wronged for their forgiveness?

 

4. Have I shut out the pain of others in other parts of the world? In my country? My City? My congregation? My neighborhood? My family?

 

5. Have I taken time recently to let the most important people in my life know how much I care about them?

 

6. Have I done all that I could to repair damaged relationships in my life?

 

7. Have I taken part in any business or personal transactions this past year that were against my religious, moral or ethical principles? Did I ever ignore the gnawing feeling in my Kishkes that told me that I took advantage of someone else?

 

As always, I welcome your comments and suggestions for additional questions and formats that we can use. This is by no means a complete list of questions. It is just a beginning. If answering any of them causes you to want to speak to one of the Temple clergy, Rabbi Immerman, Cantor Heit, Cantor Sacks and I would welcome the opportunity. Note that all of these materials will be available in several formats: electronically - via email, on our Temple website and Facebook page, in my blog: www.Rabbijoeblack.blogspot.com; and in hard copy at the Temple Office. If you know of anyone else who might want to receive these mailings – whether or not they are members of the congregation, please contact Susie Sigman at Sigman@emanueldenver.org .

 

May this time of Cheshbon Hanefesh be fruitful for all of us as we prepare to enter into the holiest days of the year.

 

L’Shalom,

 

Rabbi Joseph R. Black

 

 

 

Four Weeks of Elul: Week 2 - Our Communal Selves

My Dear Friends,

As I write this second installment of the Four Weeks of Elul, my heart is heavy.  Tomorrow morning, I have the difficult task of officiating at the funeral of a young man who died suddenly and tragically - leaving behind a wife, two young children, a stricken family and many, many friends.  He was a pillar of our community.  He gave his time, expertise and resources to support  the Denver Jewish and secular communities.  At the service tomorrow, our sanctuary will be filled to overflowing with grieving family, friends and colleagues.

When we confront tragedy: when our ordered and compartmentalized world is suddenly turned upside down, we look to one another to find comfort and caring.  As members of a Kehilla Kedosha – a sacred community – we share a common bond and connection.  The presence of caring souls helps to ease the burden of grief, pain and fear.

But it is not only in times of difficulty that we need community.  We also come together to celebrate the joys of life, to experience the sacred, to learn from one another and chart a course for our future.  Community strengthens and inspires us to share in the wonder of God’s creation.

We live in a society that threatens the very foundation of community.  Our digital technology encourages us to work alone.  This can be a good thing, but there is a fine line between alone-ness and loneliness.  One of the curses of the information age is the fact that we no longer are forced to be in proximity with one another.  We can be educated, entertained and earn a living all in the privacy of our homes.

Jewish life is based on a core value of creating and celebrating community.  We need a minyan in order to pray.  We pray in the plural.  We say: “OUR God and the God of all ages,” not “MY God. I have always found that the rhythm of weekly Shabbat observance is a vital part of my overall spiritual health. The act of regularly coming together for worship and study not only strengthens our souls, it also prepares us for those moments when we need to be together – when we experience loss or tragedy; when we want to share our joy. 

During this second week of Elul, I want us to focus on the importance of our communal selves.  If you have not taken the opportunity to participate actively in Temple Emanuel this past year, I would ask that, during this month of Elul when we perform the Mitzvah of Cheshbon HaNefesh (soul searching), you might think of ways to become involved.  You will be glad that you did.

The following questions will help you to focus your Elul preparations on how you can make a difference for good in your congregation, community and, indeed, the world itself. Again, this is by no means a complete list. There are many other areas that can be explored. Hopefully, this will provide you with a starting place for a much longer process.

1. Have I been generous enough in my support - financially or otherwise - of the institutions and charities that I find important?
2. Do I feel confident that I will be able to help those who need me in times of trouble?
3. Have I worked to strengthen my congregation? Have I given of my skills and expertise when asked?
4. How often have I been content to complain when I was affected by a problem – but after complaining, not done anything to help solve the problem?
5. Have I allowed petty squabbles and disagreements to distract me from the importance of staying involved in my community?
6. 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?
7. Have I allowed myself to enjoy Shabbat in the context of my community?

As always, I welcome your comments and suggestions for additional questions and formats that we can use.  This is by no means a complete list of questions.  It is just a beginning.   If answering any of them causes you to want to speak to one of the Temple clergy, Rabbi Immerman, Cantor Heit, Cantor Sacks and I would welcome the opportunity. Note that all of these materials will be available in several formats: electronically - via email, on our Temple website and Facebook page, in my blog: www.Rabbijoeblack.blogspot.com; and in hard copy at the Temple Office. If you know of anyone else who might want to receive these mailings – whether or not they are members of the congregation, please contact Susie Sigman at Sigman@emanueldenver.org .

May this time of Cheshbon Hanefesh be fruitful for all of us as we prepare to enter into the holiest days of the year.

L’Shalom,

 

Rabbi Joseph R. Black

 

 

4 Weeks of Elul 5773- Week 1: Our Spiritual Selves

Dear Friends, The Hebrew month of Elul begins this Wednesday, August 7. Once again, as we enter into this sacred   season, we can begin the process of cheshbon hanefesh, taking a spiritual inventory of our souls. Our tradition teaches that in the last month before Rosh Hashanah, in preparation for the Yamim Noraim--the High Holy Days--we are supposed to focus on the year that has passed. We ask ourselves: How have our actions reflected our values? Have we done all that we could to live up to our highest expectations? How could we have done things differently if given the chance? None of us can state that we are perfect. We all fall short. We all disappoint ourselves and those around us, even if we like to pretend that we don't. The High Holy Days are a time when we both acknowledge the fact that we make mistakes, and give thanks for the ability to begin anew.  The word, teshuvah is usually translated as "repentance" but it literally means "turning." Our task during this sacred month is to turn: first inward and then outward. We look at our successes, shortcomings, and failures so that we might be able to grow, improve, make amends and do all that we can to repair relationships and build bridges. As many of you know, it has become my custom to write four meditations during the month of Elul to help us to travel together along the path of cheshbon hanefesh during this sacred time. Each week, I will pose seven questions (one for each day of the week) that revolve around a particular area of our lives. Each meditation will have a different focus: Spiritual, Physical, Interpersonal and Communal. I have found that the process of writing has become an important part of my own personal Elul preparation. Others have shared with me that they are important to them as well. The purpose of these questions is not to make us feel bad or unworthy, but rather to "nudge" us into looking at these vitally important aspects of our lives. This year, I will also be giving special focus to Shabbat observance. This is part of the year-long Shabbat Initiative that began just after Passover this past spring. Our goal is to provide a series of programs, classes, and other opportunities that will help our congregation engage in a sacred conversation about integrating the gift of Shabbat into our lives. I welcome your comments and suggestions for additional questions and formats that we can use. If answering them causes you to want to speak to one of the Temple clergy, Rabbi Immerman, Cantor Heit, Cantor Sacks and I would welcome the opportunity. Note that all of these materials will be available in several formats: electronically via email, on our Temple website and Facebook page, in my blog, and in hard copy at the Temple office. If you know of anyone else who might want to receive these mailings, whether or not they are members of the congregation, please contact Susie Sigman. She will be happy to forward them. May this time of chesbon hanefesh be fruitful for all of us as we prepare to enter into the holiest days of the year. L'Shalom, Rabbi Joseph R. Black      Four Weeks of Elul, 5773 Week One: Our Spiritual Selves The world in which we live is filled with facts. At any time of any day, at almost any place, we can find unlimited information simply by pressing a button on a cell phone. They say that knowledge is power, but I sometimes feel that being "plugged in 24-7" comes with a cost. We can deceive ourselves when we think that our ability to access data somehow is an end in and of itself. A key component of spiritual living is an awareness that life is not only about what we know and possess, but also how and why we live our lives in harmony with the world around us. Spirituality is a word that is hard to define. One way to look at it is in the way that we allow ourselves to let go of our need to control things and give into the fact that there are aspects of Creation that are beyond our ability to comprehend. The great theologian Abraham Joshua Heschel wrote that Shabbat is a time when we stop trying to create, and focus on the fact that we are created. Shabbat observance becomes an integral part of our process of letting go of the "ordinary-ness" of daily life and opening ourselves to the potential for holiness that surrounds us. The following questions are designed to help us to see the spirituality that infuses every fiber of our being:    1. How often in my daily routine do I take the time to put away my cell phone, computer and other electronic devices and "unplug?" 2. When was the last time that I felt a true Shabbat experience? 3. Have I taken the time to fully appreciate the beauty of God's creation that surrounds me? 4. What are the most important gifts that God has given me? 5. How has my perception of God changed over the years? 6. If I were to be told the exact day of my impending death, what would I do differently today? 7. When was the last time I was able to pray without distraction? As always, these questions should not be perceived as a complete listing; they are merely a beginning. Some are repeated from previous years, others are new. If you have other questions that you think may help others in our community, please send them to me. Also, if you wish to share with me how these questions impact your own Elul preparations, I would love to hear from you. May you utilize these and all of your questions to help you gain a better understanding of your spiritual selves. L'Shanah Tovah, Rabbi Joseph R. Black

4 weeks of Elul 5772 - #4 Our Physical Selves

4 Weeks of Elul 5772 - Week Four: Our Physical Selves

My Dear Friends,

Without a doubt, my favorite prayer in the morning service is about openings and closings. It states (and I paraphrase): 

“We praise you, Adonai our God, who has created human beings with wisdom – providing openings that open, and closings that close.  It is well known before Your glorious throne if that one of these openings cannot open, or one of these closings cannot close – we would not be able to stand before You.” 

In case you are wondering, yes – you are correct.  This is a prayer about going to the bathroom.  (I love teaching this to 5^th graders….They always giggle when I talk about God on the "throne".).  This prayer, called Asher Yatzar, is the one of the 1^st blessing we recite when we enter into worship.  It makes sense, doesn’t it?  Judaism acknowledges the fact that we are physical beings – and that our bodies are the vessels in and through which we encounter both the physical and the spiritual realms.  If we are not physically healthy, then we cannot perform Tikkun Olam - the repairing of our world. Our bodies are holy.  The torah teaches that we are created B’tzelem Elohim - in the image of God. In this light, taking care of our bodies is a sacred task.  We also are taught that helping others find health and wellness is a vitally important mitzvah.  The simple act of visiting someone who is ill can make a huge difference in their physical and mental well-being.

During this last week of Elul, I want us to focus on our physical selves.  Again, this is by no means a complete list.  Some questions are repeated from previous years.  Hopefully the questions will provide you with a starting point for examining and improving the relationships in your lives:  As such – I offer the following questions:

1. Have I taken care of my body through diet and exercise?
2. Have I prepared medical directives that are clear and unambiguous stating my desires for illness and end-of-life issues?
3. Have I done all that I could to comfort those around me who are affected by illness – have I performed the mitzvah of Bikkur Cholim – visiting the sick?
4. Am I aware of the fact that, despite all of the politics that surround health care, the consequences of a failure to find compromise can be life threatening to many?
5. How much stress is in my life?  Is it affecting the way I live my life?
6. What bad habits have I cultivated that I need to change?
7. Have I been avoiding going to the doctor, dentist or other health care professionals due to financial concerns or fear of what I might discover?

As we enter into this last week of Elul, 5772, I hope and pray that the coming High Holydays will be filled with meaning and beauty for you.  Sue, Elana, Ethan and I truly feel blessed to be part of this sacred community.  Again, I welcome your comments and suggestions for additional questions and formats that we can use. If answering any of these questions causes you to want to speak to one of the Temple clergy, Rabbi Immerman, Cantor Heit and I would welcome the opportunity. Note that all of these materials will also be available in hard copy at the Temple Office. If you know of anyone else who might want to receive these mailings – whether or not they are members of the congregation, contact Susie Sigman at Sigman@emanueldenver.org .

L’shanah Tovah U’metukah – May you have a good and sweet new year. 

 

Rabbi Joseph R. Black

 

4 Weeks of Elul 5772 #3 Personal/Professional Relationships

Four Weeks of Elul 5772

Week three: Personal and Professional Relationships

Dear Friends,

Like many of you last week, I watched several hours of coverage from the Republican national convention.  While the speakers and pageantry were effective in presenting the positions and platforms of the party; while the pageantry and excitement that the convention created were palpable – there was one aspect of the convention that was disturbing to me.  This had nothing to do with political positions, but rather the way in which ad hominum attacks were cavalierly delivered from the podium and in the announcer’s booth - by politicians and pundits alike.  I have no illusions that next week’s Democratic convention will be any different.

I fear that our political process and the multi-layered campaigns of persuasion and manipulation that accompany it are coming dangerously close to dehumanizing candidates and destroying relationships.  This makes it difficult, once the elections are over and the work of governing begins, for elected officials to work together in the aftermath of “scorch and burn” political campaigns.  The past several years of gridlock in Washington – and here in Colorado, for that matter - can be seen as but one example of the dangers of allowing the passions of the campaign to enter into the process of governing.

I feel strongly that our nation needs to learn how to build relationships.  We need to understand that intellectual disagreement is not a stumbling block to human interaction. But it is not only in the political arena that we experience these types of impediments to healthy relationships.  How many times over the course of the past year have you found yourself losing patience and cutting off personal relationships with others whose beliefs or opinions are different than your own?

The month of Elul provides us with opportunity to reflect on every aspect of our lives as we prepare in enter into the Yamim Noraim – the days of Awe.  In particular, as we engage in the process of Chesbon Ha-nefesh­ – taking an inventory of our souls – all too often, when we think about our relationships with family, friends and co-workers we realize that we may have not lived up to our highest potential for good.  It is sometimes easy to take out our frustrations, fears and anger on those who are closest to us.  They are convenient targets and we know that we will be forgiven for momentary lapses.  And yet, each time that we fail to see the holiness in those around us – whether at home, at work, or in the community, we damage the relationships that make life worth living.
Our tradition teaches that on Yom Kippur the sins we have committed against God will be forgiven if we are truly repentant. The sins we commit against others, however, cannot be forgiven unless and until we have asked those whom we have wronged to forgive us.   In many ways, this is one of the most difficult aspects of Cheshbon Ha-nefesh.  It means that we have to take risks by reaching out to others.  We may encounter resistance, anger, or resentment.  Sometimes it is impossible to reach out to others – and yet, it is our duty to do all that we can to assess whether or not reconciliation is possible.  If there is a slightest hope – then we need to try – even if we fail.
 
In the same vein, when others come to us with a pure heart to ask for our forgiveness, our tradition teaches that we are obligated to forgive them.  Sometimes granting pardon is even harder than asking for forgiveness.  And, of course, there are some actions which are too difficult to forgive.  Nonetheless, if we are asked for forgiveness, we need to try our best to see these requests as opportunities to bring holiness into the world.

The following questions are designed to make us think about the current status of the many different relationships in our lives.   Again, this is by no means a complete list.  Hopefully it will provide you with a starting point for improving the relationships in your lives.

 

1.      How many times in the past year have I taken the love and friendship that others offer me for granted?

2.      Are there people I have wronged that I need to ask to forgive me?

3.      Will I be able to forgive those who come to me to ask for my forgiveness?

4.      Have I taken part in any business or personal transactions this past year that were against my religious, moral or ethical principles?

5.      Have I taken time recently to let the most important people in my life know how much I care about them?

6.      Have I allowed politics to come in the way of relationships?

7.      Have I shut out the pain of others in other parts of the world?  In my country?  My City?  My congregation?  My neighborhood?  My family? 

Again, I welcome your comments and suggestions for additional questions and formats that we can use.   If answering them causes you to want to speak to one of the Temple clergy, Rabbi Immerman, Cantor Heit and I would welcome the opportunity.  Note that all of these materials will also be available in hard copy at the Temple Office. If you know of anyone else who might want to receive these mailings – whether or not they are members of the congregation, contact Susie Sigman at Sigman@emanueldenver.org .

 

L’shanah Tovah U’metukah – May you have a good and sweet new year,

 

Rabbi Joe Black

The Four Weeks of Elul – 5772 – Week 2 – Our Communal Selves

Rabbi Joseph R. Black

Temple Emanuel, Denver, CO

 

Dear Friends,

Several years ago, in Albuquerque, I officiated at the funeral of a dear friend who died suddenly after being diagnosed with a very aggressive form of pancreatic cancer.  She was a pillar of the community and a past-president of our congregation.  At her service, I read an essay she had written about her relationship to the congregation.  In her essay, she recalled a time when she was travelling to Israel and she had the following dialogue with an El-Al security officer:  “Are you Jewish? “he asked?  “Yes,” she replied.  “Where do you belong?” he then asked her….

 That question, “where do you belong?” is the key to understanding the importance of our communal selves.

 Jewish tradition embodies communal life.  We cannot pray unless we have a minyan – a community.  The call to unity in community is reflected in many Rabbinic teachings such as:

·         Kol Yisrael aravim zeh ba zeh – all Israel is responsible for one another

And

·         Al tifrosh min ha-tzibbur – do not separate yourself from the community

 And yet, we also are aware that if we focus only on our particularistic concerns, we fail to connect with the holiness that is implanted within all of humanity. 

 As Rabbi Hillel taught: 

Im ein ani li. Mi l?, U’k’she-ani l’atzmi, mah ani? V’im lo achshav, ey-matai? 

If I am not for myself, who will be for me?  But if I am only for myself, what am I?  And if not now, when?

We need to balance our legitimate concerns for our own people with those of the world around us. 

When we strengthen our communities, we strengthen our world and, I truly believe that we become more acutely aware of God’s presence.

During this, the 2^nd  week of Elul, I want us to focus on our relationship to the various communities in which we live.  We need to ask ourselves the question:  “Where do I belong?”

The following questions will help you to focus your Elul preparations on how you can make a difference for good in your congregation, community and, indeed, the world itself.  Again, this is by no means a complete list.  There are many other areas that can be explored.  Hopefully, this will provide you with a starting place for a much longer process.

 

1. Have I been generous enough in my support - financially or otherwise - of the institutions and charities that I find important?
2. Have I done all that I could to help those impacted by recent tragedies and natural disasters – here in the US and around the world?
3. Have I worked to strengthen my congregation?  Have I given of my skills and expertise when asked? 
4. How often have I been content to complain when I was affected by a problem – but after complaining, not done anything to help solve the problem?
5. Have I allowed petty squabbles and disagreements to distract me from the importance of staying involved in my community?
6. 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
7. Have I spoken out when I perceived discrimination or inequity based on economics, ethnicity, religion, gender or sexual orientation in our community?

As always, I welcome your comments and suggestions for additional questions and formats that we can use.   If answering them causes you to want to speak to one of the Temple clergy, Rabbi Immerman, Cantor Heit and I would welcome the opportunity.  Note that all of these materials will be available in several formats:  electronically - via email, on our Temple website and Facebook page, in my blog:  www.Rabbijoeblack.blogspot.com;  and in hard copy at the Temple Office. If you know of anyone else who might want to receive these mailings – whether or not they are members of the congregation, please contact Susie Sigman at Sigman@emanueldenver.org .

May this time of Cheshbon Hanefesh be fruitful for all of us as we prepare to enter into the holiest days of the year.

L’Shalom,

 

Rabbi Joseph R. Black

 

Four Weeks of Elul - 5772 - Week 1

My Dear Friends,

I write this letter on August 19, 2012.  Today is also the first day of the Hebrew month of Elul.  In exactly one month we will be welcoming in a New Year on Rosh Hashanah.  During this month of Elul it is customary 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.  We need to look closely at our relationships, thoughts, deeds, fears and dreams.  We do this so that we can enter into the Yamim Noraim – the Days of Awe – spiritually and personally refreshed and prepared.  This is a powerful time of year:  when our tradition teaches that we need to ask those around us whom we have wronged to forgive us for our actions.  We are also commanded to forgive those who ask us as well. 

As we reflect back over the past year, it is important that we put every aspect of our lives into perspective.  For the past two years, I have continued a tradition here in Denver that I started in my previous congregation of sending out weekly lists of seven questions (one for each day of the week) during the month of Elul.  These questions are designed to help us examine our lives in all of the varied aspects and arenas in which we live:  Spiritual, Physical, Interpersonal and Communal.  Hopefully, by answering these questions we will be better prepared to welcome the New Year - 5773.  The purpose of these questions is not to make us feel bad or unworthy, but rather to “nudge” us into looking at these vitally important aspects of our lives.  There will be seven questions in each list – one for every day of the week.

I welcome your comments and suggestions for additional questions and formats that we can use.   If answering them causes you to want to speak to one of the Temple clergy, Rabbi Immerman, Cantor Heit and I would welcome the opportunity.  Note that all of these materials will be available in several formats:  electronically - via email, on our Temple website and Facebook page, in my blog:  www.Rabbijoeblack.blogspot.com;  and in hard copy at the Temple Office. If you know of anyone else who might want to receive these mailings – whether or not they are members of the congregation, please contact Susie Sigman at Sigman@emanueldenver.org.  She will be happy to forward them.

May this time of Chesbon Hanefesh be fruitful for all of us as we prepare to enter into the holiest days of the year.

 L’Shalom,

 Rabbi Joseph R. Black

 

The Four Weeks of Elul 5772

Week One: Spiritual Selves

As we enter the month of Elul, we begin by examining our spiritual lives.  Spirituality is one of those words that mean different things to different people.  For the purposes of this list of questions, I want you to focus on Spirituality as referring to those aspects of your life that help you to feel connected to something greater than yourself. 

The past several weeks have been very difficult.  The shocking details of the Aurora shootings and the echoes reverberating in the Sikh Mosque outside of Milwaukee have forced many of us to ask difficult questions about how a caring and compassionate God could allow such evil to take place.  This is not the first time that tragedy has forced us to question. Unfortunately, the Jewish people are well acquainted with grief and loss.  And yet, Judaism teaches that questioning can strengthen faith.   Our tradition is filled with exemplary men and women who challenge God.  From Abraham and Moses, to Rabbis Sally Priesand and Miri Gold, we have learned the importance of challenging the status quo and finding new paths to the Divine as a result.

We grow spiritually when we feel that our lives have meaning and purpose and that we are part of a Divine Plan.  The liturgy of the Yamim Noraim – the Days of Awe – is filled with the language of God’s judgment.  Rather than perceive this is a negative or punitive light, try to imagine that we are being judged for the way that we fulfill the spiritual potential that God has given us.

This week's questions deal with our Spiritual Selves. During this time of Chesbon Ha Nefesh, one of our tasks is to examine the status of our relationship with God, Torah, and our own mortality.  As always, the following questions should not be perceived as a complete listing – they are merely a beginning. If you have other questions that you think may help others in our community, I would love to receive them.

QUESTIONS – WEEK ONE – SPIRITUAL SELVES

1.      Over the course of the year, how much time have I been able to dedicate towards appreciating the beauty of God’s creation?

2.      When/where was the last time I felt close to God?

3.      With the memory of the recent tragedies, how has my faith been tested this year?  How has it been affirmed?

4.      How has my faith evolved since I was a child?

5.      When was the last time I was able to pray without any distraction?

6.      How often, during the course of the past year, have I been able to set aside my own needs for something bigger than myself?

7.      If I were put in the position of explaining my beliefs to others, would I feel comfortable in doing so?

 May you utilize these and all of your questions to help you gain a better understanding of your spiritual selves.

L’Shanah Tovah,

Rabbi Joseph R. Black

Black@Emanueldenver.org