Beloved Friends,
This Friday we begin the Hebrew month of Elul. This month has been designated by our tradition as a month of preparation. In Hebrew it is Cheshbon HaNefesh, an “accounting of our souls.” Elul feels quite different this year. I know that you, like me, have had an extra amount of time to look inward as we manage our lives in this pandemic. Priorities have been reordered as we adapt to a new normal, a new way of life. We feel the absence of physical human contact keenly and long for the embrace of family and friends. I know that all of us look forward especially to the reunion that happens during the High Holy Days. This year will be different and as meaningful as ever.
Another way our tradition refers to the work of this month of Elul is Tikkun Middot, a repair or a rebalancing of our character. As we look inward, we see what traits are out of balance and in need of repair. For each of us, the work is different. Yet, we also engage in this work as a community of shared experience and interconnection. The very word, Elul, reminds us of the deep connection we have with one another and with God. The word is an acronym: Ani L’dodi, V’dodi Li, “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.” (Song of Songs 6:3).
I want to share the plans we have for how we can engage this month and during the Days of Awe. This month, starting with our worship this Friday night, we will engage with a middah that reflects the work of this season. We will offer an array of safe in person and digital activities each week. We would love to see all of you in person to hear the shofar blown, do Tashlich, and memorialize loved ones in your neighborhood and digitally for study and worship. Please click here for a full schedule. The culmination will be a “drive-in” Selichot program and worship in the Temple Jeremiah parking lot. Ani L’dodi, V’dodi Li, “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.”
During this month, we are assembling High Holy Day packages for each Temple Jeremiah household. Among other items, it will contain a set of our High Holy Day prayer books, Mishkan HaNefesh and a book filled with warm New Year wishes from members of our community. Through these packages, we hope to create a feeling of connectedness, while we remain physically apart. These packages are possible, in part, because of generous donations to the Temple for this special purpose. We invite you to help deepen this feeling of connection by adding your support to these High Holy Day packages and sharing a Shana Tova greeting with our community. To learn more, please click here. It is particularly important that we know that you have renewed your membership for this year so that we can make sure you receive one of these High Holy Day packages. Now, more than ever, Temple Jeremiah remains your community for connection, support, celebration, and so much more.
If you have not done so already, to renew, please click here. We know this has been a challenging time for many, on multiple levels. We are here to support you.
If you have a question about your membership, please be in touch with Danny, daniel@templejeremiah.org.
For Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur we will be sharing our worship through the YouTube platform. Though digital worship is certainly Plan B, we are very excited about what we are creating to share with our community. It will be unique, meaningful and inspirational. Details will be coming shortly about the timing and how you can connect. Ani L’dodi, V’dodi Li, “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.” We are Temple Jeremiah and our vision is to be a Jewish community of meaningful connection. Even with the limitations placed upon us by our overriding concern for everyone’s health, safety, and well-being, we remain firmly and deeply committed to this vision. Cathy, Jacob, Eli, Anna and Hope join me in wishing all of you a Shanah Tovah u’Metukah, a Happy, Sweet, Healthy and Safe New Year.
Shalom,
