Chevrei:
As you read this newsletter, we will be entering the second half of the Hebrew month of Elul, the season of preparation for the High Holy days. As with most years, the September newsletter coincides with the beginning of the program year for our community. Our program year begins with Selichot, the service of preparation for the High Holy Days. It is on Selichot that we greet one another with “Shana Tova”, (may you have) a good year.
It has been our custom the last few years to share Selichot with two sister communities, Temple Beth Ami, a Reform congregation, and Congregation Har Shalom, affiliated with the Conservative movement. This year we will be joined by Temple Or Chodash, also Reform. This summer, I worked with the cantors from these three communities on a program of music and liturgy which will precede our shared Selichot service. What makes this night different from all other nights? (I know, wrong holiday...) This year is Adat Shalom’s turn to host the evening consisting of socializing, learning and praying. So, on Saturday, September 8, we will celebrate with the Abrams family as their son and brother, Daniel, is called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah, and then at 9:00 PM, we will gather to welcome members from Beth Ami, Har Shalom, and Or Chodash for a night of music and prayer. Special thanks go to our new members, Elinor and Jeff Spieler for serving as coordinators for Selichot; when you see them, please express your appreciation.
As I write these words, it is mid-August and we have just welcomed the month of Elul. During this month, it is customary to recite Psalm 27, the psalm for Elul, each day. This psalm opens with the line, “You are my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” The psalm goes on to speak of prevailing over an enemy. This, of course, could be misconstrued to allude to a real, tangible enemy, particularly in a time when we feel ourselves to be struggling against a group that appears to want our demise.
Perhaps, however, we are meant to hear these words and the sound of the shofar, which is sounded daily during Elul, with the intention of girding ourselves for the difficult, sometimes uncomfortable task of what our tradition calls, “cheshbon nefesh”, the accounting of our soul. This is a task from which we may turn away in fear and yet, using words from our tradition to guide and comfort ourselves, this soul-searching can be the thing that helps us see beyond our stance of defensiveness. The process of recognizing our frailties and failings, of trying to make amends, can take the strength of a mighty force, as Psalm 27 suggests.
The psalm for Elul ends with the lines, “If only I would believe I would see the goodness of God in the land of the living. Hope in God; be courageous and God will strengthen your heart.” May we all find the strength and courage to face ourselves and each other during these High Holy days and each day.
B'Vracha
Rachel
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