Elul Reflection - 9.7.23 - Cantor Feller

You're invited to someone’s house for dinner, brunch, a gathering and your mind swiftly jumps to who will be there? what’s the dress? and what should I bring? - flowers, wine, home baked goodies - my famous chocolate chip cookie bark? (Happy to share the recipe). The greater the event the more planning goes into the details. We’ve all been in these situations; we know how it works. So, we think ahead, we prepare. And now we’re going into the Yamim Nora’im, the Days of Awe, a time both ancient and new when we will gather in our Beit T'filah, our house of prayer. You’ll see new and familiar faces, hear melodies and liturgy that can move the soul and enter a space where one can tap into the invisible line which connects Jews all over the world. It’s time to prepare.
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What gifts will you bring into these holy days? As a community we recite our communal list of sins, “Al cheyt shechatanu l’fanecha - For the sins we have committed before You” How wonderful it would be to also recite a litany of our gifts. I offer the gift of Tolerance, Patience, Understanding, Acceptance, An open heart, Open ears, Laughter, Love. We each bring our own unique gifts. May the gifts we bring come from the heart and lift us all higher.

Shanah tovah,
Cantor Feller