Dear {{first_name}},
This Shabbat is Shabbat Rosh Chodesh, bringing Sabbath and new moon together in an auspicious conjunction. This Rosh Chodesh is not just any Rosh Chodesh, but heralds the arrival of the month of Elul, which alerts us to the fact that it is one month until Rosh HaShanah! Elul is a month of connecting, repairing, reflecting, deepening, preparing, aspiring, and is accompanied with special rituals of daily blasts of the Shofar, the recitation of Psalm 27 and a moving liturgy of forgiveness (selichot). Tradition tells us that the four letters that spell ELUL (aleph, lamed, vav, lamed) are an acrostic for a verse from The Song of Songs, “ani l’dodi v’dodi li - I am for my beloved and my beloved is for me” and there is a mystical teaching that says in Elul “the King is in the field!” This metaphor is of a benevolent, Divine presence that is more accessible, more immediate and available than a transcendent and distant God. Together these rituals and traditions invite us into spiritual intimacy and openness, as we shine a gentle light of truth into our inner world, illuminating the places where we need to do our work, as we stand on the threshold of another year.
This Shabbat Rosh Chodesh we are celebrating the Bat Mitzvah of Ella Rosenbaum at Bonai Shalom and through the livestream. Mazal tov! We also have some wonderful, rich learning opportunities, including a full moon shofar hike, throughout the month to help us get ready for the Awesome Days that are coming! See details on our website.
The Torah reading this Shabbat is Re’eh, meaning “see!” It invites us to open our eyes and see the blessings where we might see curses, to see the world through eyes of the Divine rather than limited human vision.
May we be blessed with deep and precious insight and open hearts to enter into this Shabbat and this Rosh Chodesh!
Shabbat Shalom and Chodesh Tov
Rabbi Marc
