Elul gets our souls ‘warmed up’ to start fresh for the New Year.
For Elul this year, I am pleased to share with you words from some of my favorite teachers from whom I have learned a great deal over the years. Some may be familiar and some may be new to you. I will bring you selections from the Sfat Emet, Henry David Thoreau, Rabbi Jonathan Slater and more plus my commentary on them. I welcome your thoughts.
Please share brief teachings from your favourites. If you have a special text, verse, poem, or prose that has influenced you during your life, please send it to me at rabbiplumb@mishkantefila.org .
Names - What is Yours?
EACH OF US HAS A NAME
Each of us has a name, given by God and given by our parents Each of us has a name, given by our stature and our smile and given by what we wear Each of us has a name, given by the mountains and given by our walls Each of us has a name, given by the stars and given by our neighbors Each of us has a name, given by our sins and given by our longing Each of us has a name, given by our enemies and given by our love Each of us has a name, given by our celebrations and given by our work Each of us has a name, given by the seasons and given by our blindness Each of us has a name, given by the sea and given by our death.