Today is Rosh Hodesh Elul, the first of the New Month of Elul. It has been said that Elul is an acronym for “Ani L’dodi v’dodi li. I am my Beloved and my Beloved is Miine.” I wear that as a silver bracelet on my wrist. It was a gift of my husband many years ago, so it connects me to him. It connects me to my Bat Mitzvah which was observed many years ago since the phrase from Song of Songs was part of my portion. It connects me to Moses who began his journey up Mount Sinai for a second time on Rosh Hodesh Elul. He returned 40 days later on Yom Kippur.

For the next 40 days we will be looking at connections. Some of you have written powerful things which we will share, here on this blog.

Why connections? It arose out of a conversation with the Torah School Parents, Last year we spent the year studying community, using as our verse, “Do not separate yourself from the community.” It turns out that what we want from community is connection, Friendship. Deep relationship. We want to not feel isolated or alone.

Participating in this project at a time when people still feel isolated and alone, will help.

Participating in this project before Rosh Hashanah will provide insight and deepen our own preparation and connections, one to another.

That’s what I had written, But I need to add.

This weekend was painful. Physically and emotionally painful. Six of the Israeli hostages were found murdered, yes murdered, in a tunnel in Gaza. Many rabbis wrote the words we have all written so many times. There are no words. I tried to come up with some. Others may have had even more poignant ones, not that it was a competition.

What I have learned working on this topic this summer is that connections are about just showing up. Show up for your friends. Check in on them.

Participating in this project at this time of great angst in the world, agony in the Jewish community will help. Make a connection.