CBI Blogs

October 3, 2024/1 Tishrei 5785
Rosh Hashanah!

As a Rosh Hashanah gift from us to you, here is one last thought to start your year:

Rabbi Eleanor Steinman

As we prepare ourselves for the dawn of a new year, many of us reflect upon the two broad categories of sin; sins between people and sins between a person and the Holy One (Mishna Yoma 8:9). This mishna teaches us that the liturgical atonement of Yom Kippur between the person and God does offer teshuvah. However, between people, it is only when the wronged person grants forgiveness that teshuvah occurs. To do this interpersonal work takes persistence, patience, and strong communication skills.

If we are the one who caused pain to another we must persist to offer our forgiveness. This appropriate commitment to engage in a vulnerable conversation may be demonstrative of the work we need to do to right a wrong, to repair a relationship.

Patience because whether we are the one who experienced harm or the person who caused harm, we need to grant ourselves the grace to feel and process our emotions. While an immediate apology could provide a balm, a request for forgiveness that includes a clear statement of the wrong done and a commitment not to make the same error twice may take a reflection period to formulate. 

Finally, both people, in order to repair a rift, must be prepared to utilize strong communication skills. Deep listening, well articulated thoughts and a forthright, specific apology, and honest engagement are key components to get to teshuvah, repair. This is our sacred work at this season. 

As we enter another year on the Jewish calendar, we offer our thanks to our colleagues who participated in Elul Thoughts 5784. From all of us, we wish you a sweet, happy, healthy, and safe 5785 where your rifts are moving toward healing and your lives are full of many blessings!

If you would like to show support for a congregation or to express appreciation for a particular thought, please consider using one of the links below to offer tzedakah in honor of Elul Thoughts. This year’s Elul Thoughts include contributions from:

Cantor Joanna Alexander, Temple Israel, Omaha, NE

Rabbi Batsheva Appel, CABI Boise, ID

Rabbi Deana Sussman Berezin, Temple Israel, Omaha, NE

Cantor David Berger, KAM Isaiah Israel, Chicago, IL

Rabbi Erin Boxt, Temple Beth Shalom, Ocala, FL

Rabbi Michael Churgel, North Country Reform Temple-Ner Tamid, Glen Cove, NY

Rabbi Alan Cook, Sinai Temple, Champaign-Urbana, IL

Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker, Temple Emanuel, Winston-Salem, NC

Rabbi Glenn Ettman, Congregation Or-Ami, Lafayette Hill, PA

Rabbi Neal Katz, Congregation Beth El, Tyler, TX

Rabbi Rony S. Keller, Congregation B’nai Israel, Boca Raton, FL

Rabbi Daniel Kirzane, KAM Isaiah Israel, Chicago, IL

Rabbi Brad Levenberg, Temple Sinai, Atlanta, GA

Rabbi Kelly Levy, Congregation Beth Israel, Austin, TX

Rabbi Eric Linder, Congregation Children of Israel, Athens, GA

Rabbi Alan Litwak, Temple Sinai of North Dade, North Miami Beach, FL

Rabbi Laurence Malinger, Temple Shalom, Aberdeen, NJ

Rabbi Harry Rosenfeld, Congregation Albert, Albuquerque, NM

Rabbi Andrew Rosenkranz, Temple Beth Torah, Wellington, FL

Cantor Jenna Sagan, Congregation B’nai Tzedek, Fountain Valley, CA

Rabbi Simone Schicker, Temple B’nai Israel, Kalamazoo, MI

Rabbi Benjamin Sharff, Temple Israel, Omaha, NE

Rabbi Judith Siegal, Temple Judea, Coral Gables, FL

Rabbi Eleanor Steinman, Temple Shalom, Austin, TX

Rabbi Don Weber

Cantor Laurie Weinstein, Temple Israel, Tulsa, OK

Rabbi Michael Weinstein, Temple Israel, Tulsa, OK

Rabbi Stephen Wise, Shaarei-Beth El Congregation of Halton, Oakville, Ontario

Rabbi David N. Young, Congregation Beth Israel, Austin, TX

Shaliach Tzibur Raymond Zachary, Congregation B’nai Tzedek, Fountain Valley, CA