Throughout the month of Elul, the month preceding Rosh Hashanah, I will be sharing daily reflections to help each of us prepare for the upcoming High Holy Day Season.  I hope these thoughts inspire each of us to make time, find the energy and initiate some passion as we reflect and examine this past year, in preparation for the year to come.

So often in life, we move through the days, simply trying to get from one to the next.  We have schedules, appointments, meetings and classes: requirements that provide a basic rubric by which we go through the motion of life.  And yet, we often travel through our days without intention, purpose or meaning.  We have become so good at getting through the days, that we have forgotten what it really means to live life.

Therefore we are given an opportunity each and every Rosh Hashanah to take stock of our lives, to evaluate our purpose, to recommit to the ideals with which we are meant to live life.  In some ways, speaking of new beginnings is rather simple and straightforward.  The New Year allows us to create anew and view things from a different perspective.  And yet, it is so very difficult to imagine life different from the way we live it every day.  If we are truly to embrace a new beginning, we must be willing to examine the content of our days, and to then ask ourselves the difficult question: do the actions of our days fulfill our ultimate purpose in life?

I ponder this question with regularity.  Most often, I contemplate my place in the world when my children question me about the why’s and why not’s of life.  I have come to realize that my eight and ten year-olds, in many ways, have far more wisdom than I.  Their inquiries about fairness, peace, God and creation force me to think, see and perceive differently than I may have been doing in the past. 

There is a Chasidic tale that the great Baal Shem Tov used to teach: believe that each day the world is created anew, and that you yourself are born anew each morning.  Then your faith will grow, and every day you will find yourself newly eager to serve God.

This year, as I imagine a new beginning,
I want to strive for holy,
while allowing for the mundane. 

This year, as I imagine a new beginning,
I want to ask more questions,
while searching for answers.

This year, as I imagine a new beginning,
I want to let the voices of my children
be as strong as the voice in my own head.

This year, as I imagine a new beginning,
I want to make room for God,
even on the most difficult of days,
especially on the most difficult of days.

To new beginnings,
To the strength to find them,
To the heart to feel them,
To the wisdom to hear them.

And now let us hear the blast of the Shofar,
And let our souls be awakened.

Shalom,
Rabbi Debbie Bravo

In Judaism, our calendar is a tapestry that leads us through the celebration of the year, and the celebration of life.  Tonight begins our celebration of the first of two days of Rosh Chodesh Elul, the beginning of the new month of Elul.  We celebrate the end of the month of Av, the month tinged with sadness, and then welcome the beginning of the month of Elul.

This new month of Elul is special and different.  Throughout the month of Elul, we are directed to begin the process of reflection and personal discovery.  Though many of us will gather together in synagogue for the celebration of Rosh Hashanah and the observance of Yom Kippur next month, we understand that we cannot simply appear on those days, unprepared and unaware.  In order to fully experience our holiest of Holy Days, we must prepare ourselves, though study, prayer and self-reflection. 

The themes of the Holy Days are complex and yet straightforward.  However, each and every year we understand them differently, for we are different as individuals, and our world is certainly a changing place.  As we approach Rosh Hashanah, we are in a time of comfort and consolation.  This year in particular, after a challenging summer in our world, we need comfort and solace. 

Our rabbis teach us that the month of Elul represents a process of courtship between ourselves and our God.  The Hebrew word Elul, Aleph, Lamed, Vav, Lamed, is also understood as an abbreviation for Ani l’dodi v’Dodi li, “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine”, the famous quote from Song of Songs, often cited during Jewish wedding ceremonies. 

During the month of Elul, the people of Israel and God rediscover one another, and in finding each other, prepare to meet one another during the Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.  In order for us to best utilize the month of Elul as a time of introspection and reflection, we are instructed to awaken our souls each and every day, to ideas, themes and concepts that will prepare us for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.  Each day, we hear the sound of the shofar, to wake up our spirits and call ourselves to teshuva, to repentance.  We read psalms daily and might add other readings and reflections in this process of preparation.

This year, as we observe the month of Elul, I will share a daily thought, an idea that perhaps can help each of us to better open our hearts in preparation for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.  Personally, if I don’t take the time to pause, reflect, read and consider a new way of looking at each day, at every interaction, then how will I be prepared for the themes of the Holy Days, of repentance, prayer and charity?  How can I truly find a higher self?  Join me in this journey: let our hearts soar, let our souls be awakened! 

Shalom,
Rabbi Debbie Bravo

Introduction to Building Bridges, Making Connections, Finding Sunshine:

For many years, I have been contemplating how best to share my voice, to express my opinions, primarily as a rabbi, but certainly as a mother, wife, feminist and Jew as well.  Since I was ordained a rabbi from Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, OH in 1998, I have primarily used sermons and newsletters as a vehicle to share my thoughts.  However, in today’s society, it is all to clear to me just how limited those audiences might be, and how important it is for me to share thoughts on a variety of topics.  I hope after reading my blog posts, you will sometimes say to yourselves: Bravo, Rabbi Bravo!  And even when you are not impressed, or even in agreement, I hope you will comment and share your own perspectives, and wait for my response.

I intend to share with you topics closest to my heart:  Israel, Feminism, Jewish leadership, Community building in the 21st century, parenting, education and much more.  I’m certain that as I open the gates to write, there will be much to say.

This blog is symbolic of much of the work of my rabbinate, as I have embraced building bridges within each of my communities and beyond; making connections with individuals, families and communities, and finding sunshine even during the most challenging of times.  My voice has evolved as I have evolved as a person, a woman, a rabbi, a wife, a mother and a Jew. 

If you like my thoughts, or share my challenges and questions, I encourage you to re-post, fb, tweet or simply share with your friends and family as well.

We Jews are a people of the book, but today’s books are simply words we find and share with others, words I hope worthy of a rabbi who cares of Jews, children, Torah and learning.  May we travel this journey of opinion, action and response together! May we build more bridges, make new connections, and always find the sunshine that exists behind every cloud!

Shalom,
Rabbi Debbie Bravo