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 .
Praying with our Body
Try the posture below. From Yoga Shalom by Lisa Levine and Carol Krucoff
‘When our people was called to Listen We heard the voice of the Eternal Speaking in our hearts To believe in what we could not see To hope in what we could not touch And thus We found the courage to know that You exist. In us, in others, in nature, in spirit. Seen and unseen, Tangible and intangible Unifying Oneness.’
When you listen to the One, what do you hear? Is there a voice within that speaks to you?
A posture for the day: Find a quiet place. Put your hand on your heart. Feel your heartbeat. Pat your heart to the beat of your heart. Try to slow your heartbeat by breathing deeply and slowly. Pat your heartbeat on your chest for 2-3 minutes, or more if you wish. Let the patting of your heartbeat become all you can hear. Imagine it is the only sound in the world. Let your heartbeat become the rhythm of all life around you. Feel and hear its power, steadiness and energy. Imagine that beat bringing energy to others. Offer thanks for the power of your heartbeat as it extends throughout the world. Slowly, bring the sound of your heartbeat back from the world to yourself. Gradually, stop beating the sound of your heart, and let it simply beat within you.
Say thank you to God for the steady, calming beat of your heart.
