Monday was the new moon of the month of Elul that leads us into the Days of Awe. Elul is a powerful month of introspection and reflection, as we bring our best intentions into repairing our relationships and imagining who we want to be in the New Year. The Hebrew letters of Elul are said to be an acrostic for Ani l'Dodi v'Dodi Li - I am for my beloved and my beloved is for me, from Song of Songs. The month is about connection and intimacy with ourselves, others and the Divine. The Baal Shem Tov famously taught "hamelech b'sadeh - the King is in the field." This teaching offers us the possibility of seeing the Holy One of Being as much closer and available than at other times of the year if we are open.
There are two powerful rituals that accompany this month - the daily blowing of the shofar and the twice daily recitation of Psalm 27 with its powerful messages of safety, hope, protection and courage.
This week, I and others on the community have been offering The Daily Blast on our whatsapp chat group at Bonai Shalom and they are all linked here if you want some shofar sound to take you into this Shabbat! May these blasts and our inner work help us find peace, solace and meaning in this very challenging world. Shabbat Shalom Rabbi Marc
Congregation Bonai Shalom 1527 Cherryvale Rd Boulder, CO 80303
