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.
Xplore/Hitlamdut/Self-Learning (ok, X is a hard one…)
During Elul and through the High Holy Days we are helped to change with something called Heshbon Hanefesh, an accounting of the soul. By honestly reflecting on the past year, and our patterns over the year, we gain insight into how to change for the coming year. Let’s Xplore and Xamine our past year with these questions from Reboot.com.
Q1. Describe a significant experience that has happened in the past year. How did it affect you? Are you grateful? Relieved? Resentful? Inspired?
Q2. Is there something that you wish you had done differently this past year? Alternatively, is there something you're especially proud of from this past year?
Q3. Think about a major milestone that happened with your family this past year. How has this affected you?
Q4. Describe an event in the world that has impacted you this year. How? Why?
Q5. Have you had any particularly spiritual experiences this past year? How has this experience affected you? "Spiritual" can be broadly defined to include secular spiritual experiences: artistic, cultural, and so forth.
Q6. Describe one thing you'd like to achieve by this time next year. Why is this important to you?
Q7. How would you like to improve yourself and your life next year? Is there a piece of advice or counsel you received in the past year that could guide you?
Q8. Is there something (a person, a cause, an idea) that you want to investigate more fully in the coming year?
Q9. What is a fear that you have and how has it limited you? How do you plan on letting it go or overcoming it in the coming year?
Q10. What do you think/hope might be different about your life and where you're at as a result of thinking about and answering these questions?
Spiritual Practice
Get a journal, or small notebook, or pieces of paper. Write the answers in the journal. We can answer the questions all in one go, today. Or answer one per day until Rosh Hashanah. This is for your eyes only, unless you choose to share it. See if there are any patterns you notice over the past year—patterns of thought or behaviour. How can we use these patterns to help us change and grow in the year ahead?
Mussar @ Mishkan Tefila
Congregation Mishkan Tefila 384 Harvard St. Brookline, MA 02446
