As a lover of Jewish time, I always make a point to keep an eye on the moon as its light fluctuates throughout the month. Last week, we saw the full moon of the month Elul light up our night sky. However, the full moon wasn’t as full as it typically appears. On Tuesday night, if you looked up at just the right minute, you would’ve seen a partial lunar eclipse in which the moon was partially obscured by the shadow of the earth. Though we knew it was coming, it was still a bit unsettling to know that the full moon we had come to expect was going to look a little different for a few moments in our night sky.
As the moon is now in its waning phases, we know we are coming closer to the end of the Hebrew month. This Saturday night, Ashkenazi Jews will mark the Shabbat before Rosh Hashanah with Selichot, an opportunity for prayer and reflection as we prepare to enter into the new year. Selichot, translated as forgiveness, is a time when we begin to turn towards the hard work of teshuvah, or repentance, that the High Holy Days command of us.
Last week’s full moon was partially concealed by the shadow of the earth, leaving us to wonder what beauty was hidden in the darkness. When the eclipse ended, we were left with the beauty of the moon’s fullness. This transition from partial darkness to full view reminds me of the symbolism embedded in Selichot and our preparation for the chagim. The rituals of Elul and the High Holy Days serve as our own eclipse, prodding us to reflect on the darker corners of our souls and prepare for the eclipse to end, leaving us with fullness, joy, and peace in the new year.
–Yael Farber, Rabbinic Intern