Monday, August 25, 2025. It was the first cool morning in a while – we were wearing jeans and sweaters, standing under the shelter during a brief shower. The big rains came last night, enough to flood the creeks. This morning, the air felt fresh and damp, and the leaves were dripping. Flowers are abundant, beginning their transition to fruits. The birds are beginning their migration – the local bird monitor crew is out doing its work – so many species in this marsh! We are blessed to live in the Great Lakes with all of this fresh water and greenery.
Our thoughts this month turn to the great work of the month of Elul, preparation for the High Holy Days to come. We began this process last month with the breaking down of our spirits at Tisha B’Av – now comes the next step, evaluation of our year and beginning to frame up how we would like to do better. Rabbi Rachel Barenblatt, in her Velveteen Rabbi blog, suggests that the cycle of the Jewish year spirals upward like the center of the Guggenheim Museum – always returning to the same place, but also always in a new one. We are not the same people we were last year, and next year we’ll be different yet. [1]
We talked of the immanence of G!d during this season, so close to us as we challenge ourselves to see our worst and our best. Rabbi Barenblatt reminds us of the vision of our sages, that the majestic G!d the King leaves the palace and enters the field, to walk beside us daily as we make ourselves vulnerable. She suggests we talk with G!d – the Divine, the Universe, as you prefer to name it – while walking outdoors or sitting in our homes or our cars. We also talked of the murkiness of this month, like the swollen creeks full of sediment around us – we enter the season without clarity, not knowing where we will wind up – being open to the process, and appreciating the companionship of the Divine and each other as we go. May all of us find this process meaningful and hopeful – a good Elul to you! Chodesh tov! – K. Miriam
Our next Rosh Chodesh walking meditation will honor the New Year, Rosh Hashanah, and the first of Tishrei. NOTE THAT WE ARE MEETING A DAY EARLY THIS YEAR, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, THE DAY BEFORE ROSH HASHANAH, to allow for holiday observance the next day. Rain or shine! Contact us for time and location!
[1] See https://velveteenrabbi.blogs.com/blog/2025/08/inthefield.html
Rosh Chodesh Cleveland 