Shabbat Gathering: Elul is here!

Dear Chevrei, as is our custom, we will gather tonight at 5.45p ct to welcome Shabbat. These are the coordinates:

Zoom
Meeting ID: 883 8469 4181
Password: 822665
Phone: +1 312 626 6799

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Here we go.

On Wednesday this week, the calendar turned over to the month of Elul. One of the traditions of Elul is that we blow the shofar every morning. Why’s that? As cool as it would be to think a ram’s horn could sound like a cock-a-doodle-do, that’s not the right answer.

However, the ram’s horn, like the rooster, is suppose to wake us up. We are running out of time for repentance, repentance with each other and repentance with Hashem.

Recently, a close friend of the synagogue, Rabbi Rena Blumenthal, started teaching a class called On Repentance and Repair: Preparing Our Hearts for the Holiday Season. I’m taking the class with about seven other congregants and we meet by Zoom as R. Rena is on the East Coast. R. Rena has taught many classes for the synagogue.

The current course is based on a book by Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg, On Repentance and Repair: Making Amends in an Unapologetic World which in turn is based on one of her Tweeter threads which was based on Mamonides writing in the Mishna Rabah. (That’s a mouthful.) R. Danya puts a contemporary spin on something ancient.

In the first class, we learned that repentance is a five step process.

1. We name and own the harm.
2. We must begin to change.
3. Make restitution.
4. Apologize.
5. Never do the harm again.

R. Rena always puts together classes that informs and enlightens. I’m looking forward to the rest of the course.

And may it be for all of us a blessing.

See you tonight!
Gut Shabbes!

All my love,
brian.

PS

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