Remember, Repair and Re-Create!

The Hebrew month of Elul, which comes before the Jewish High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, is known as “the days of transformation.”  We are supposed to review our acts and actions in the past year. What have our actions and choices created? This can be a painful time for thinking people. We are to remember during this season.

YAH remembers us, we remember our higher power, we remember the hurts others have caused us -- and we must remember the pain we have caused others. This is called Heshbone HaNefesh, literally, an accounting of the soul. 

It is difficult to forget the hurt caused to us; we carry the anger, the pain, the desire to get even. The rabbis talk about forgiveness, but don't explain that forgiveness is for us, not the one who caused the hurt. Forgiveness is NOT condoning!!! Forgiveness is so we do not carry around the toxic effects of our anger. Festering anger damages us, not the object of our anger.

And what about those people whom we have hurt? That is much more difficult to face. When we encounter someone who has been negatively affected by our actions and choices, we want to run and hide. It's not comfortable to face up to our negative actions, but that is what “the days of transformation” are about.

Unlike some religious traditions, that allow someone to be forgiven by God without addressing the victim, Judaism requires that the victim and the pain we caused to be faced. It is not your higher power's responsibility to repair those relationships, we are responsible for reconciling relationships, however painful that may be. (By the way, that is what the Jewish Jesus taught too!) These are the responses of a mature adult.

The process we use to accomplish this is called Teshuvah, usually translated as "repentance," which for modern people is a hollow term. But, Teshuvah is a process of reconciliation, literally "turning oneself around." One has to admit to the error, ask for forgiveness, make reconciliation, or recompense where possible, and vow not to repeat that action again.

Easier said than done, but that is why Jim Myers and I are teaching people about the TOV Standard. TOV means more than "good", it means doing actions which put life first. It is a yardstick for measuring our choices and behavior. These actions should protect life, enhance the functioning of life, nurture and nourish life and encourage a positive effect on our communities and ourselves.

Doing TOV helps repair our world and re-create a society of Justice, Righteousness and Shalom. Rosh Hashanah begins next Wednesday, September 24^th at sundown. Use the next seven days to remember, repair and re-create. May the coming year bring you Health, Success and Joy.

Do Tov! Choose Life!

Rabbi Jeffrey Leynor