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.
Trust/ Bitachon
I have a friend who is a slow decision maker. He researches, thinks and consults at almost every decision. The outcome is often good because of his thoughtfulness, but the process is slow and sometimes painful. I once asked him why he takes so much time to make choices. He thought about it (as is his wont), and reflected that he probably didn’t have enough trust. He wanted to control the outcome as much as possible. If he researched enough, or talked to enough people, the decision would end up leading to the result he wanted.
The problem is that, ultimately, we have very little control over the future. We may work hard to ensure that things go the way we plan, but the reality is, we know they often don’t. That’s when bitachon, trust, is needed. Bitachon teaches us that we will be okay, even if life doesn’t go to plan. Bitachon is resiliency. Trust does not mean that we should believe that God will make everything go the way we want. Rather, it means that, when it doesn’t, God will give us the strength we need to cope and find a new path ahead. We will adapt. We will learn. We will figure out a way forward.
Spiritual Practice
Today, put a post it note on your mirror and car steering wheel, or on your phone as a reminder, saying ‘I will be okay.’ Repeat that phrase to ourselves whenever something does not go the way we wish. Practice building and believing in our resiliency. Trust in our ability to cope and move forward no matter what comes our way today. We will be ok.
Mussar @ Mishkan Tefila
Congregation Mishkan Tefila 384 Harvard St. Brookline, MA 02446
