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The Jewish calendar is determined by the cycle of the moon. The moon during the month of Elul is particularly meaningful. It starts barely visible to the eye—reaches it’s brightest illumination mid-cycle and then slowly diminishes back to its original form. So, too, is the cycle of our lives. The challenge for us during this month is to feel time more intensely—to do time with greater intention. The moon is in its first quarter stage—not yet quite able to brighten the world. So too, is there still darkness within each of us. This is the time for soul-searching, determining whom we’ve hurt—whose forgiveness we implore. When next we see the New Moon—we will be gathered in prayer, and like the moon itself, we shall start anew in the New Year.
Below are a few of the verses to Debbie Friedman’s (z’l), Seasons of the Moon. Debbie, whose life ended too soon and who was a beacon of light and hope for so many—reminds us in the song that there is a Divine presence in each of us and that Divine presence links us one to the other.
A sliver, a quarter, a half and full light
Revealing yourself in the darkness of night
And we go round and round and round
And we go round and round
This is the cycle the rhythm of time
Days in to weeks into months into years
And we go round and round and round
And we go round and round.
A sliver, a quarter, a half and full heart
Revealing the mysteries that set us apart
And we go round and round and round
And we go round and round.
A sliver a quarter, a half and then whole
Renewed by Your presence, touching the soul,
And we go round and round and round
And we go round and round.
May our cycle this month lead us to a better place within—enabling us to create greater wholeness in our world.
