Cheshvan

It's the first day of Cheshvan - the only Hebrew month no holidays, major or minor in the year. Often this month is called: 'Mar' Cheshvan - some think this means, bitter (like Maror) because it has no holidays. Others say, mar (as in Modern Hebrew) means "sir/mister," a symbol of respect. As I wrote in my last post, after all the holidays it's time to breath and get back to normal.
This month makes us think about the resolutions we made during the High Holidays. Are we taking the thoughts and plans which we reflected upon and started to implement those sacred intentions? Have we taken all the energy we invested in seeking to transform our lives and actualized the activity we envisioned? This is the first part of turning the High Holidays into daily holiness.
What I enjoy most about this time though is finding the sacred in the daily mundane aspects of living. I like davening at home in the morning and at minyan in the evening. I enjoy having a little more time for study and more important for people who call or want to meet with me. I guess (and I have for a long time) I do believe in what Max Kadushin taught many years ago: we believe in "normal mysticism." Yes, God can be found in special holidays, wonders of nature and sacred moments of the cycle. But God is also found in every aspect of this world if we would just open our minds and hearts and souls to the wonder and the Presence.

Almost there ...

Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot ... one more big weekend to go. After the incredible crowds, the moving liturgy, the beauty of the Sukkah - the end days of the Fall holidays are weird. Shemini Atzeret, this Shabbat, is this strange day. No more lulav/etrog. Sukkah is optional. Instead we have Kohelet - the Book of Ecclesiastes, Yizkor - the Memorial Service and Geshem - the prayer for rain in Israel. It's kind of serious again, like Yom Kippur, but not so much about our sins - more about our values and our journey. It's a reflection on our quest for meaning in life, in the life of our loved ones and in the life of our community. The rabbis say: after all the pageantry and festivities of Sukkot - the 8th Day is quiet, just those who worship and God enjoying (in many communities) a last day of Fall Holidays.
But for traditional synagogues outside of Israel there is one final celebration: Simchat Torah. After nearly a month of holidays - we party! Finishing the Five Books of Moses and starting over again is for those who experience the cycle filled with joy. We have been privileged to study God's words and to infuse them into our life this past year. And now we will start again - the never ending cycle of listening to the Divine word, culling its values and practices, and living them ever day. It's good to sing and dance with the Torah celebrating our faith, our love and our truth. Hag Sameach...