Standing in this Moment

As we come to the last Shabbat of 5780,
The Torah calls,
You stand here today with everyone,
With all those who came before you,
And all those who will come after.
 
You stand here with all those you love,
And with all those whose actions and values you despise.
 
You stand here today with all beings,
To cross over into a renewed relationship
With the Unfolding Mystery of Life.                                   
(Deut. 29:9-14)
 
How do we cross?
How do we enter into this New Year?
This renewed relationship?
 
The Mystery commands:
Love.
Love with all your heart and with all your soul,
And walk in the ways of love.                                 
(Deut. 30:16)
 
The soul cries,
It shakes,
It shudders: Love in the face of all this?
 
This is not too great a task for you,
The Mystery responds,
It is in your mouth and heart to do.                                
(Deut. 30:14)
 
Choose love.
For the sake of your children’s, children’s, children,
For the sake of all beings,
For the sake of all life,
Choose to live from love.                                               
(Deut 30:19-20)
 
May love be the power with which we renew and rebuild this beautiful and broken world.
  Love and blessings,

Rabbi Yael

More Elul Resources
During the month of Elul it is traditional to say Psalm 27 each day. This psalm can be a helpful companion as we journey through this season. Download a PDF of the psalm in Hebrew with a translation by Rabbi Yael.
 

We sit together as Elul continues to turn and call us. Listen to the recording of this morning's Meditation Sit with Rabbi Yael Levy.

A Way In is happy to present a recording of the “Torah in these Challenging Times” Torah Study with Rabbi Yael Levy from Sept. 7, 2020. Listen to Rabbi Yael’s expanded teaching on this week’s Torah portion Nitzavim.