Getting to the High Holidays, One Day at a Time

We are all familiar with the adage, “You get out of it, what you put in” and this is certainly true with the High Holidays which are just 6 weeks away.  

As I write this post, the Jewish month of Av has begun. Av and the months that follow, Elul and Tishri, can be emotionally powerful months for us if we are attuned to the Jewish calendar.   Jewish tradition gives us tools - a series of personal and communal rituals that build on themselves and culminate in Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, when the metaphoric Gates of Heaven swing open to opportunity and repentance, and then 10 days later, swing shut with our year set.  The months of Av, Elul, and Tishri can guide us as individuals to turn inwards to ready ourselves. We can use this time to consider the direction that our lives are taking, and how we might make the coming year different.  Changing the course of ones’ life is easier said than done.   Personally, I can’t do it on my own and so this year I am using a framework I found on Ritual Well to guide me.

Rabbi D’vorah Horn developed the following series of questions and thoughts for contemplation, to help prepare for a new year. She recommends spending a little time each day—5 or 10 minutes—reading the questions, making notes, adding to what you did the day before.

If you decide to embark on this personal journey and have questions, or would like to explore something along the way, I’d be happy to meet with you via Zoom.  As the rabbi of the MLJC, I want to be a part of your lives and the fabric of the community, even living in San Ramon.  The times we gather in person, are an opportunity to get to know each other, to grow and deepen our relationship, and to draw inspiration and meaning from our tradition but I don’t see them as the only time we can interact.  Several of you have come to Saturday morning Torah study and periodic online Shabbat gatherings.  I would welcome your reaching out to me at other times too such as life cycle events, an adult bar/bat mitzvah experience or possible conversion conversations. 

We’ll be together in person for Rosh Hashanah, Tu b’Shvat and Passover.  I look forward to celebrating these holidays together and the opportunity to explore new ideas, broaden our understanding and be enriched by our warm community.  

Rabbi Jamie - Rabbijamie1@gmail.com

Preparing Ourselves for the Coming Year:  The Gift of the Jewish Calendar

Adapted from Rabbi D’vorah Horn

Though this year’s seven weeks have already begun, you can catch up by doing the first week’s review in 30–60 minutes one day.

Week 1: 11–17 Av, August 15-21

Review the past year, making a list of what was “finished” this year (so far as you can tell), either things you accomplished or things that came to completion or apparent end in some other way. These could be in any area of your life:  your personal well-being, finances, relationships, house & home, family, earning money, studying, volunteering, creative projects, repair projects, new jobs, travel or vacations . . . think broadly. Take 5 or 10 minutes to jot down things the first day and add at least one thing to the list each day.  

Week 2: 18-24 Av, August 22–28

Look at the list from last week, and now think of all the channels that had to open for these things to be accomplished: people who helped you or taught you, information you gathered, beings or places of the natural world, dreams or spiritual messages, resources like money or other physical things. This is a little bit like thinking of all that must happen for food to be on your table, but now focused on your past year and its “deeds,” things that got done.

Week 3: 25 Av–1 Elul, Aug 29–Sept 4

Express gratitude for all that you have recognized in weeks 1 and 2.  See if there are any other moments of gratitude you remember from the past year. Also ask yourself if there is anything you want to do to “give back,” either in new expressions of thanks (to people, other beings, God….) or reciprocity to them, or to give back by “paying it forward.” Perhaps you remember already actions in the past year where you paid it forward or passed it on; appreciate those too. Also, remember those times when you let yourself be completely receptive (okay, even partially receptive) to the help you received from others. What does that receptivity feel like? Give thanks for that too.

Week 4: 2–8 Elul, Sept 5–11

Think of the effort you put out this year, the obstacles that you encountered, and how you dealt with them.  This includes how you took responsibility, how you persevered even when it was hard, and how you dealt with resistance or self-doubt.  Recognize your strength and courage and the affirmations you received for acting in strong ways.  Who helped you with this?

Week 5: 9–15 Elul, Sept 12 -18

Of the things that happened the past year (whether ‘finished’ yet or not), which ones felt most like your authentic self, coming to expression?  Contemplate these memories and recognize the feelings of wholeness, healing, and satisfaction that come from those moments of authenticity.

Week 6: 16–22, Elul, Sept 19-25

What lessons have you learned from the events of the first year? Go back to Week 1 and think whether there are things that you intended to complete but didn’t. Examine what was the blockage and whether there is something to be learned from that. Perhaps you later realized it was better that you didn’t continue in that effort, or perhaps there is a correction you can make for the future. If there are any other painful events you experienced besides blocking of your action (just this past year!), what were their sources? What fine-tuning or mid-course corrections did you make, and did those help? Give thanks for the lessons.

Week 7: 23–29 Elul, Sept 26 – Oct 2

What in the past year were the gifts you most cherished? Was there anything that felt like a gift beyond your expectations? Where did things come out even better than you had hoped? Did something you dreaded or feared turn out to be a source of blessing, did darkness turn to light, or the unknown become a source of insight? Give thanks for this too and think of how you might “pass it on” by telling others, in stories or other ways. 

This is the place where you start the New Year.