Rabbi's Blog

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Words to Live By

Welcome to this online Elul spirituality retreat, written by Rabbi Marcia Plumb and sponsored by Congregation Mishkan Tefila. Every day during the month of Elul, you will receive a ‘Word to Live By’. The words will be in alphabetical order, similar to the Ashamnu prayer during the Yamim Noraim. The Ashamnu lists our sins from the past, but our Elul words contain hope for the future.

You can use the word, and the teaching that comes with it, to set an intention for your day, to help you live your day based on the word. You may want to share it with a friend, who has need of just that word. You may be busy, and simply notice the word in the subject heading, then, skip to the next email….and that is fine too. Noticing can be enough.

At the end of the month, at Rosh Hashanah, I hope, because of our Words, our hearts will be softer, our minds more open to new ways of thinking, and our actions more compassionate.

With prayers for healing and renewal,
Rabbi Marcia Plumb, Congregation Mishkan Tefila, Brookline MA.

Open-Hearted/Ahavah (Love)

High cholesterol runs in my family.  My cousins, my brother, and I, all have to watch what we eat in order to make sure our arteries are clear and our blood can run smoothly through our bodies.

In Mussar terms, there is such a thing as spiritual cholesterol.  It is timtum ha’lev, which literally means ‘ a stopped-up heart.’   When our hearts are closed off, or hardened, to others, we have spiritual cholesterol. 
If eating harmful fats causes clogging of our arteries, what causes timtum ha’lev?  ‘Ingesting’ harmful attitudes and prejudices, allowing anger to build up, carrying resentments--all this leads to a spiritual ‘stopped up heart.’ 

 Letting go is so hard for us to do. As Alan Morinis says, ‘Left to our own devices, we would hold on to every perceived wrong and slight until our dying day, if not beyond.’

Acknowledging our biases, racism, and prejudices is also hard. 
The High Holy Days give us the chance to cleanse our timtum halev.  It is our spiritual medication to drain whatever is closing our hearts to others.  Take the medication--forgive those who have hurt us, let go of the resentment, and challenge our prejudices.  Open our hearts so our souls can run smoothly. 

Spiritual Practice
Today, choose one prejudice that closes your heart to others.  Acknowledge it, face it, and challenge it. 
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Today, Let go of one hurt that you carry with you.  Choose one resentment to release.

Elul @ Mishkan Tefila

ELUL Offerings: To Prepare Our Souls for High Holy Days

Silent Supper, September 17:  Silent Supper

All Congregants and Guests Are Welcome

Using texts and 20 minutes of silent reflection on our eating, we will practice paying attention to what goes in our mouths (food) and what comes out (positive or negative language).  After our text study and 20 minutes of silence, we will enjoy a lively (chatty) meal together.  Register here .
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Teshuvah Workshops hosted by CMT, led by Rabbi David Jaffe, incorporating Mussar and Spirituality.  Mishkan Tefila members should click here to register. 

Mussar @ Mishkan Tefila