Rabbi's Blog

Day 29 Elul

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 .  

Poetry for the Soul

Ne’ilah by Marge Piercy

The hinge of the year, the great gates opening
and then slowly slowly closing on us.

I always imagine those gates hanging over the ocean
fiery over the stone grey waters of evening.

We cast what we must change about ourselves
onto the waters flowing to the sea. 

The sins, errors, bad habits, whatever you call them, dissolve.

 When I was little I cried out
I! I! I! I want, I want.
Older, I feel less important,
a worker bee in the hive of history, 
miles of hard labor to make my sweetness.

The gates are closing.
The light is failing. 

I kneel before what I love, imploring that it may live.

So much breaks, wears down, fails in us. 
We must forgive our broken promises—
​​​​​​​their sharp shards in our hands.