Elul 5784 (September 3, 2024)

Shalom! It's been a minute!

As you might have realized, I took an extended break from social media this summer. Because it was summer, I got to travel a fair amount on the weekends. I visited San Francisco with LeBron and our doggies, spent a lot of time in Boston/Newton reconnecting with friends and family, and got to see my Maplewood family a fair amount as well. In Philly, I spent time hanging around with my roommate Lev and their cat Benji, watching Taylor Swift on grainy livestreams, and doing a real deep clean of my room — which is now way more fun to spend time in!

I’ve also been working hard at Society Hill Synagogue through membership renewal season and now back to school season. Check out our beautiful (if I do say so myself) website! I'm also planning the Society Hill Synagogue High Holiday Teen Programs and the Adult Ed course I'll be teaching in the spring. I’m thrilled to have ONE (1) job this year, as opposed to the three I had all last year!

This fall, I'm also really excited to come back into the RRC community in-person! I get to spend my Wednesdays on campus this semester, which I’m really thrilled about. My rabbinical school classes include Biblical Civilization (one of the RRC courses I've most been looking forward to) and Roles & Responsibilities of the Rabbi (a survey course). Balancing these academic demands with personal growth has been a significant part of my journey this year.

Unclear if this will really continue to be a monthly newsletter moving forward, but stay tuned if you want!

As we enter the month of Elul, we are invited into a time of deep reflection, self-examination, and spiritual preparation. Elul is often described as a month of Teshuvah—returning to our true selves, our relationships, and the deeper values that guide our lives.

The name "Elul" is commonly interpreted as an acronym for "Ani L'Dodi V'Dodi Li" (אני לדודי ודודי לי), meaning "I am my Beloved's and my Beloved is mine" (Song of Songs 6:3). While traditionally this verse speaks to the relationship between humanity and the Divine, it can also represent any relationship built on love, trust, and mutual care. Regardless of one’s belief in G!d, this month encourages us to reconnect with sources of love and meaning in our lives, reflect on our relationships with others, and turn inward for healing and growth.

Reflecting on Sacred Connections

Elul is also a time when we are especially called to connect with what’s sacred or meaningful in our lives—through nature, prayer, community, acts of kindness, or personal reflection. Notably, Elul follows the month of Av, traditionally associated with mourning and loss, and leads us towards Yom Kippur, a day of atonement and renewal. This transition from Av’s discomfort to Elul’s introspection grounds us in the Jewish yearly cycle, offering a time for spiritual recalibration.

This year, my heart lingers on Tisha B'Av, and the weight of our historical and current struggles feels particularly heavy. We continue to grapple with violence and loss, both globally and within our communities. The recent return of the bodies of six hostages, including American-Israeli Hersh Goldberg-Polin, is a poignant reminder of Jewish pain.

Embracing Grief as a Catalyst

Elul is a time to sit with our grief, honor our pain, and begin healing. Witnessing Hersh’s funeral was a stark reminder of the deep personal losses many are facing. His parents’ heartbroken words reflect a collective grief and guilt that resonates with many of us.

My grief over Hersh’s death also compels me to reflect on the immense suffering in Gaza, where loss and shortages are staggering. The shared experience of loss connects us all, even as I struggle with the actions of leaders who exacerbate the conflict. Understanding these different contexts of suffering is crucial, and Elul challenges us to hold both realities in our hearts.

Navigating these emotions has been deeply challenging this year. Reconciling personal and communal grief with the extreme suffering in Gaza feels overwhelming. Acknowledging and grappling with these emotions is part of being human and a step towards greater empathy and inclusion. By facing our feelings honestly, we strive for a deeper connection with all who endure hardship and work towards a more compassionate and just world.

I pray for a day when all feel easy compassion for one another. 

Chodesh Tov — may this month of Elul be a time of healing, transformation, and deeper understanding as we move towards a path of peace and connection.