Tonight is Rosh Hodesh Elul. The beginning of the new month preceding the new year. It is a time of reflection, of introspection, of review and renewal. It is said that on the first of Elul, Moses climbed back up Mount Sinai, to receive the 10 Commandments a second time. He received much more than that. He would have a very intimate encounter with the Divine. But on this very first day of Elul, Moses was scared, exhausted and more than a little angry. He seeks some Divine reassurance from G-d—and he gets it. It is G-d who will go before him and lighten his burden, giving him rest. What does it mean to you, to have G-d lighten your burden. What does it mean to rest. What would you give up carrying?

This is an auspicious time. Tonight we begin a project of looking at the 13 Attributes of the Divine, those very soul-traits that Moses heard, felt, experienced when he was back on that mountain top. I have asked many of you to wrestle with this text. What does it mean to you? How do they speak to you?

Tonight a small group of us met at Congregation Kneseth Israel. We talked about Rosh Hodesh. How the women did not give up their gold for the golden calf and so the women have this half-holiday just for women. We talked about whether there is still a difference between women’s spirituality and men’s. We looked at several books aimed at helping us prepare for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Each person selected something to read to the group. One had us puzzling. We all decided we needed to do more thinking about it. Neshama Carlebach in Dr. Ron Wolfson’s book, the Seven Questions You’re Asked in Heaven asks, “Did you betray who you are or did you do what you hoped.” Wow! Such a big question. That is what Elul is for, wrestling with the tough stuff, ahead of asking to be inscribed and sealed in the Book of Life.

During the next 40 days we will go on a journey, a journey together to our deepest most selves. Come journey with me. Be assured by G-d that G-d will give you rest. The rabbis teach that the word Elul, the name of this month means search in Aramaic. We will search together. It also is an a acronym for Ani L’Doi V’Dodi Li. I am my Beloved and my Beloved is Mine. Come with me and experience the G-d who calls us Beloved. Then we will be ready to greet Rosh Hashanah, the New Year, living a life that matters.