Catholicism and the Sabbath part 2

Sabbath Keepers Put To Death

Cross Over tv program - The Shofar

What Is Elul?

"What's an Elul?" "How come I never heard of that?" Well, Elul is a month; and it's a real beauty. Here's the idea: The Hebraic calendar has various periods of heightened spiritual sensitivity and awareness. We can always connect with Yahweh; but some days are more propitious than others. Some days there's clearer reception.

Think of it this way: If I'm in a room, and I can’t see, there may be two reasons: either my eyes are closed, or the light is off. Or, perhaps, both factors might be true; my eyes are closed and the light is off. We can use this as a metaphor for our own awareness of the Divine. Left to its own devices, the world is 'dark'; it seems shallow and disconnected. There's no 'light' to see.

So, we need two factors. First, I have to open my eyes. After all, it's common enough (at least superficially) to go through life with eyes shut to spiritual light. So I have to open myself up to the presence of Yahweh within reality.

But, I can only appreciate holiness that's revealed in my orbit; I still need the light to be turned on. When Yahweh shines the light, and I open my eyes, the relationship flourishes. I am like the prodigal, sitting in his pig-sty, until "coming to my senses."

Thankfully, Yahweh always emanates holiness for us to appreciate. But there are levels and gradations to that, too. On Shabbat, for example, Yahweh projects an otherworldly sense of Himself -- if we can only manage to connect, to 'open our eyes,' to internalize it. Other Holidays established by Yahweh for all mankind are also 'holy moments' -- rarefied phases when we can achieve levels of connectedness that might be unavailable on a regular Tuesday.

Elul is a similar period of intense Divine revelation. This is the gift of Yahweh to us, enabling us to properly approach the High Holidays.

But the question begs to be asked: The calendar's other holy moments all seem to be Shabbat or Festivals (Yom Tov). Those days -- days when we don't work, when we're focused on the set-apart reading of Torah; worshipping in an assembly with other believers, the seder, the shofar etc. -- they are the days of cosmic revelation. Why doesn't Elul have any holidays?

Why is Elul a normal month if the Divine projection is indeed so awesome?

Here’s an answer: When you think about it, this itself (the normalcy of the month) reveals its true power. When people are cocooned in spirituality, swathed in the beauty of an appointed Festival, they are primed for a consecrated experience. Being centered on Yahweh fits into the groove of the day. On the other hand, mundane life seems shut to our experience of Yahweh's presence. Holiness doesn't fit very comfortably where compartmentalizing is the order of the day.

Yet, Yahweh is infinite, without boundaries. We don't accept the idea that Yahweh can't reach us in our normal lives. It must simply take a deeper, more potent revelation to reach us at that uninviting level.

Think about it: We measure a lamp's potency by how far it can project light. It takes more power to project illumination far from the source. The same applies to those who follow Torah and by extention the One who reveals Torah to us. Revelation to those in meditation does not take as much 'potency' as revelation to those in a disconnected state.

Yahweh grants us this special boon because we need it; we're about to face the High Holidays. So Yahweh -- mercifully -- gives us a month of inspiration. We need our mundane lives transformed. We need to transcend material life's shallowness, rising up to connect with its latent sanctity.

Yahweh comes to us, in our blinding vortex of physical life, to touch us, to inspire us. Yahweh gives us a little zetz in the kishkes (poke in the ribs), to wake us up -- to recognize our own need for meaning, for holiness, for Him.

In order to appreciate the High Holidays, we have to step away from our own self-absorption. We have to recognize our limitations and yearn for connection with our Maker.

Elul is a time when Yahweh helps us to find that inner longing, selflessness and holiness. But it takes a step from us; Yahweh prompts us, but we've got to take a step. The scriptural 'Song of Songs' is all a metaphor for this (two-way) yearning between the ultimate Lover and us. One of the verses there (6:3) says it succinctly: "Ani l'dodi v'dodi lee" -- I am to my Beloved (Yahweh) and my Beloved is to me.

Our tradition notes that these four Hebrew words form the acronym 'Elul,' because this is Elul's theme. Elul is the time to find that yearning within. That's why it's traditional to blow the shofar every day of Elul; the pristine call of the shofar reflects the soul's cry for meaning.

You can do it; now’s the time. Yahweh helps you to find that inner love, especially this month. You've just got to take a step to greet your Beloved -- do a mitzvah, attend a class, just take a step. And don't forget teshuvah; repentance with resolve to "go and sin no more."

Jewels of Elul - Obama, McCain, Katzenberg and Many Others to Participate

29 Day Meditative Anthology Leading to The Jewish High Holy Days Produced By Craig Taubman and Craig 'N' CO

For the fourth year, Craig Taubman and Craig 'N' Co are publishing "Jewels of Elul," an anthology of 29 essays corresponding to the 29 days of Elul, the month prior to the Jewish High Holy Days which begins September 1st. Each day will be inspired by a politician, community leader, teacher, artist or thinker in anticipation of the High Holy Days which begin September 29th. Elul is a month traditionally dedicated to meditation.

This year's "Jewel's of Elul" is inspired by the 60th anniversary of the State of Israel and is called "Dreamers and their Dreams." The following 29 individuals are included:

1. Senator Barack Obama (Presidential Candidate) 2. Senator John McCain (Presidential Candidate) 3. Rabbi Elyse Frishman (Editor of New Reform Prayer Book) 4. Sherwood Schwartz (Creator of Giligan's Island and Brady Bunch) 5. Jeffrey Katzenberg (Co-Founder of Dreamworks) 6. Professor Alan Dershowitz (Harvard Law Professor) 7. Barry Goldstein (Team leader Mars Project) 8. Marc Platt (Producer of Wicked) 9. Salman Ahmad (Top selling Muslim artist and UN spokesperson for Aids Awareness) 10.Josh Lieb (Executive Producer The Daily Show) 11. Rabbi David Woznika 12. David Broza (Multi Platinum Israeli Singer) 13. Anne Heyman (Founder of a school in Rwanda) 14. Danny Siegel (Mitzvah Man) 15. Lynn Schusterman (Philanthropist) 16. Rabbi Jack Pressman 17. Elisa Bildner (Founder of Foundation for Jewish Camping) 18. Muffy Davis (Paraplegic Ski Champion) 19. Roz Rothstein (Creator of Stand With Us) 20. Fran Richey (Best selling author of The Warrior) 21. Rabbi Gershom Sizomu (First Black Rabbi From Uganda) 22. Margaret Wong (Internationally recognized immigrant rights attorney) 23. Elka Graham (Olmpic Silver Medalist Swimmer) 24. Dr. Peter Diamandis (Founder of the X Prize Foundation) 25. Kingsley (Artist) 26. Wafa Sultan (Psychiatrist and outspoken critic of radical Islam) 27. Eli Winkelman (Creator of Challah for Hope) 28. Emma Forrest (Author) 29 David Suissa (Dreamer, Ad Executive) "Jewels of Elul" will include an introduction by Rabbi David Wolpe.

Craig Taubman stated: "This is an ambitious free High Holy Days project that reaches tens of thousands of people. It is my goal to disseminate the High Holy Day spirit starting at the beginning of Elul on September 1st. For 29 days individuals will have meditative thoughts to focus them as they lead into the High Holy Days."

Jewels of Elul IV is sponsored by the Stefan Adelipour For Life Foundation in memory of Stefan, a twenty-two year old Boston University Senior who lost his life in a fire. Jewels of Elul IV can be obtained free of charge at www.jewelsofelul.com.

Copyright © 2008, NewsBlaze, Daily News

Three Shofars

Elul - Ani LeDodi VeDodi Li

The Roshei Tevot (first letters) of the Hebrew verse Ani LeDodi VeDodi Li - I am my Beloved's and my Beloved is Mine (Shir HaShirim - form the acronym Elul (aleph- lamed-vav-lamed). Elul is a time when we turn to God, our beloved, and God turns to us, in love. Rav Kook taught that our turning, or teshuvah, is actually a process of returning to the way things were as God intended them to be in the beginning: "Teshuvah redresses the defect [of sin] and restores the world and life to their original character."

Teshuvah

We do teshuvah when we seek and grant forgiveness, and when we repent, regret, and refuse to recommit our transgressions bein adam lehavero (between ourselves and other people) and bien adam lemakom (between ourselves and God).

Mishnah Yoma 8:9

For a person who says: I will sin and Yom Kippur will atone for me, Yom Kippur does not atone. Transgressions between a person and God, Yom Kippur serves at atonement. For transgressions between one person and another, Yom Kippur does not serve as atonement, until the one offended has been appeased.

Excerpt from Rambam Hilkhot Teshuvah 2:9

It must be emphasized that even if a person restores the money that he owes, he must appease the person he wronged and ask him to forgive him. Even if a person only upsets another by saying [certain] things, he must appease him and approach him [repeatedly] until he forgives him.

If the other person does not desire to forgive him, he should bring a group of three of his friends and approach him with them and request forgiveness. If [the wronged party] is not appeased, he should repeat the process a second and third time. If he [still] does not want [to forgive him], he may let him alone and need not pursue [the matter further]. On the contrary, the person who refused to grant forgiveness is the one considered as the sinner.

Our tradition considers teshuvah a process organic to our very beings and to the cycle of our relationship with people and with God. At the same time, Judaism recognizes the challenges and obstacles to teshuvah that are also a part of life. Because teshuvah takes considerable emotional, spiritual, and sometimes physical effort and involves many steps, it also takes considerable time. The month of Elul and the first ten days of Tishrei leading up to Yom Kippur is a time to begin the work of teshuvah and of heshbon hanefesh - taking stock of our souls. During this time we observe many traditions that draw us back to ourselves, to our loved ones, to our community, and to God through processes of reflection, release, and redress.

Elul Traditions

Shofar. Beginning with the first day of Elul, the shofar is sounded every morning (excluding Shabbatot, and with the exception of the morning before Rosh HaShanah), immediately after morning services. The musar (devotional) literature connects the shofar blasts of Elul with Moshe's ascent to receive the second set of tablets, which began on the first of Elul.
The shofar is a call to repentance (cf. Maharil, Hilchot Aseret Yemei Teshuvah)

We read in the Tenakh: "When a ram's horn is sounded in a town, do the people not take alarm" (Amos 3:6)? The Shulkhan Arukh teaches: "The ram's horn should be bent, so that the children of Israel may bend their hearts toward their Parent who is in heaven."

The Rambam teaches that we must listen to the shofar with kavannah or intention. If we do not, we have not fulfilled our obligation. Hearing the shofar is a mitzvah which involves intention of heart and mind so that hear its deepest message - the call to teshuvah.

Psalm 27. It is customary to recite psalm 27 at the conclusion of morning and evening services throughout Elul. In recent times, people have taken on reciting this psalm throughout Elul on their own. Reminding us that God is our support and strngth in time of great difficulty, psalm 27 can embolden us to engage in the process of self-evaluation and teshuvah.

Psalm 27

Adonai is my light and my life.
Whom shall I fear?
Adonai is the foundation of my life.
Whom shall I dread?

When evil-doers come upon me to devour me,
even my adversaries and foes stumble and fall.

If an army should camp against me,
my heart will not fear.

Though war should wage up against me
Even then I will be confident.

One thing I ask of Adonai only this do I seek:
to live in the house of Adonai all the days of my life,
to gaze upon Adonai's beauty to frequent the temple of Elohim.

For You conceal me in your pavilion on the day of evil.
You hide me in the covert of your tent.
You lift me up on a rock.

And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies all around me
And I will offer sacrifices in Your tabernacle with the sound of trumpets.
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to Adonai.

Listen Adonai when I cry aloud.
Have mercy on me; answer me.
[Your instruction,] seek my face, my heart repeats.
Your face, O Elohim, do I seek.

Hide not your face from me.
Do not put Your servant off in anger. You are my help.
Forsake me not, nor abandon me.
O Elohim [You are] the One who delivers me.
For though my father and mother have forsaken me
Adonai will lift me up.

Show me Your way Adonai,
and lead me on a level path
because of my ever watchful foes.
Deliver me not over unto the will of my adversaries
For false witnesses have risen up against me
and those who breathe violence.
If I had not believed to look upon the goodness of Elohim,
[I would no longer be] in the land of the living.

Look to Adonai [for hope]
be strong and of good courage.
Look to Adonai [for faith].

As translated by Kerry M. Olitzky (adapted from JPS 1917 and 1985 translation)