A CHECKLIST FOR ELUL

Elsewhere in this issue of the Sinai News, Rabbi Vogel reminds us that the month of Elul is a month of preparation in advance of the High Holy Days. I thought I would offer a list of concrete suggestions in the spirit of the lists that we find in Pirke Avot. Pirke Avot (Sayings of the Fathers) is one of the tractates of the Mishnah, the 2nd century compendium of law and opinion that forms the core of the Talmud. In Pirke Avot, we find all sorts of rabbinic aphorisms, often in the form of lists. Maybe the best known is "The world is founded on three things: Torah, worship, and deed of loving kindness." (1:2). But there are many others: "Ten things were created on the eve of the first Shabbat" (5:6), "Seven things distinguish a fool and seven things distinguish a wise man" (5:7). "There are four types of people who give to charity" (5:13). I won't give you those lists. You will have to look them up (for example: on-line mentsh.com/pirkei_avot.html, http://www.shechem.org/torah/avot.html or there is good Reform movement commentary edited by Kravitz and Olitzky).

Using the Pirke Avot literary model, I propose a three by three list for Elul. With three acts might you prepare for the new year: Bringing someone into the community, making yourself available in the community, and repairing a bit of the world.

Now the lists within the list:

Bring someone into the community
Version 1: Bring a friend to Temple. Most people who identify themselves as Jews are not members of a congregation. That is too bad since, as Hillel says, in Pirke Avot, you should not "separate yourself from the community." Some of those folks are just waiting to be invited. 

Version 2: Bring your child to services. As Hillel might have said "Do not separate yourself from the community just because you are worried that your kid won't sit still through Shabbat services." Let the child wander. Wander with him or her. We will be glad to see them and glad to see you.

Version 3: Offer a ride to someone in the community. We know a number of members, mostly older, who would love to get to services if someone would pick them up. If you tell us you are available, we will work to make a match,

Make yourself available in the community

Version 1: Call someone you have not seen lately. You used to bump into him or her around Temple but you haven't been in touch lately. Email can work, too.

Version 2: Make yourself available through the caring committee. Bring one meal to someone who is in mourning. Give someone a ride to the doctor. Write a note. Let this year's co-chairs, Celia Shapiro and Zippy Ostroy, know that you are available to help.

Version 3: Make yourself available to the stranger in our gates. You know that majority of Jews who are unaffiliated? Some of them are unaffiliated because, when they did drop in at a Temple, they felt lost, unwelcome, or just ignored. That shouldn't happen. Be an usher sometime or just introduce yourself to someone you don't know at Temple.

Repair a bit of the world

Version 1: Repair the Temple. There is always something at Temple that needs a bit of work. Tracy Bare did a wonderful job on our garden over the summer and, if you look around, you will be sure to find a task that meets your talents (Anyone feel like fixing the cupola? Well, I suppose that is more likely to be fundraising project than a home handyman project.)

Version 2: Help the Rabbi. Maimonides has a famous ranking of acts of charity. His second highest rung is for "the one who gives tzedaka, but does not know to whom he gives, nor does the recipient know his benefactor." One way to perform this mitzvah is to donate to the Rabbi's fund.

Version 3: Get involved. Temple Sinai works on several social action and social justice projects. Opportunities for action occur all year long. There maybe some in this copy of the Sinai News. Others will appear in the weekly Sinai Updates. Watch for them and act on them.

You don't need to do all of these things but it would strengthen us as a community if we each added one of these during the month of Elul, before the High Holy Days. Returning to Pirke Avot, as Hillel says "You are not required to complete the work, yet you are not permitted to desist from it. (2:21)

Note: I didn't list all of the contact relevant information. Feel free to drop me an email ( wolfe@search.bwh.harvard.edu ) or call the Temple office (617-277-5888) and we can match you up with the right folks. Best wishes for a good and sweet new year.