An Accounting of the Soul.

Today is the first day of the Jewish month of Elul.  Elul is the month that leads up to Rosh Hashanah and the Yamim Noraim (High Holidays).  Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur can be SO intense that it makes sense that Tradition tells us to take the entire month beforehand to prepare mentally and emotionally.  This process is known as “Cheshbon Hanefesh” – when we are to take time each day of Elul to reflect and do some soul-searching.  It is a difficult task to look inside at your wrong doings, to reflect on a whole year and look at how you can improve. To come back to Gd and ask for forgiveness.  It is a really deep and personal time and I know I, personally, find myself bawling in shul (temple) each year.  

Which is why I really want to make a commitment to meditate each day of Elul and prepare my heart and soul for the Yamim Noraim.  My Rabbi has sent out an email regarding this time and will be sending out a Daily Meditation every day to guide us through the month.  I AM THRILLED ABOUT THIS!! Perhaps if I take some time each day this month, I won’t need to bawl as hard during the Kol Nidre.

I can’t promise that I will write each day but I will definitely be expressing thoughts on these meditations as they come.

SIDE NOTE: Oddly enough one of our assignments in class is to write and express about the High Holidays and to journal our personal process!  Here we go!