Elul Challenge Day 14: Tefilah/Reflect Take a walk and gather small rocks to use for Tashlich. Maybe you want to get smooth ones for your smaller mistakes and easier apologies; rough and edgy ones for the more difficult, etc. Elul is all about preparing, about being ready—spiritually and emotionally—for the start of Rosh Hashanah. And so, as we come to the end of this second week, this week dedicated to introspection, we look ahead to Tashlich, to the symbolic casting away of our sins. Use the time to get outside, alone or with (socially-distanced!) friends or family. Take a walk, with favorite music or an inspiring podcast—or just the sounds of the world around you. And, take the time to reflect—to think about the mistakes and the behaviors that you want to leave behind in this year, the pieces that you want to cast away. Gather them up, and get [...]

Elul Challenge Day 13: Tefilah/Reflect Count your blessings: List 10 kind things people have done for you this year. Much of the work of teshuvah, of repentance, is the work of repairing relationships. We are called, understandably, to focus on the bonds that might be broken or strained. But, following on the last two days of gratitude and of strength, let us start from our most solid position—the rewards and meaningful moments with our loved ones, friends, and even the chance encounters of our lives. What kindnesses felt unexpected, a sudden delight? And whose deep presence has been a steadfast gift? These moments of Elul are designed for us to reflect on our challenges, but on our blessings as well. — Rabbi Sari Laufer Take our #ElulWisely2020 challenge: Download Here

Elul Challenge Day 12: Tefliah/Reflect Post or draw a picture of a time you felt strong. The second blessing of the Amidah, the central section of our daily prayers, focuses on gevurah—on God’s strength—marked by the Divine ability, and desire, to give us life, sustain us with kindness, support the fallen, heal the sick, and maintain us in faith. These months have tested—and continue—to test our strengths, encouraging (and forcing) us to dig deep, and find solutions, abilities, and powers we might not have imagined that we had. Ata gibor, we say to God: You are mighty. Anachnu giborim: We too are strong, and today—I encourage you to explore and celebrate your own unique strengths. — Rabbi Sari Laufer Take our #ElulWisely2020 challenge: Download Here

Elul Challenge Day 11: Tefilah/Reflect Post or draw a picture of a place that makes you feel grateful. When the prophet Hosea talks about teshuvah, repentance, he says: “Return O Israel to Adonai your God…”(Hosea 14:2). The question that follows was no different today than it was those centuries ago—asking how we might do that. Our tradition offers so many answers, so many different paths that teshuvah can take. Rabbi Yoshi shared them with us last week; we will share them together in our prayers and reflections for these High Holy Days. Hosea’s answer, though, may inspire us to start with gratitude. After imploring us to return, he teaches: “Say to God: accept what is good…we will pay the offering of our lips.” Rabbi Henry Glazer suggests this understanding of Hosea’s words: “See the giftedness and beauty of life, cultivate this awareness and the inner attitude of gratefulness.” So, this week—begin with gratitude and see [...]