Choosing Blessing: Entering Elul with Intention
This week’s Torah portion, Re’eh, opens with the words:
“Behold, I set before you blessing and curse” (Deuteronomy 11:26).
Life is filled with choices—large and small, obvious and hidden. Re’eh reminds us that our choices matter. The way we choose to live, speak, and act not only shapes our own lives, but also ripples outward to affect our communities and the world.
Choices: A Prayer for Parashat Re’eh
May we celebrate the opportunity
to choose what matters to us,
and may we be blessed with the ability
to make wise and healthy choices.
May we recognize that joy and sorrow
are not mutually exclusive,
and may practicing positivity
help us live with intention, purpose and joy.
May we be blessed and bolstered by kindness
and have the opportunity to be a blessing to others.
May we feel connected to community
and take the time to appreciate and acknowledge
those who make a difference in the world.
May we choose our thoughts and words with care
so that all we say
and all we do
is a reflection of our best self.
May we find light in the darkness,
and may the light of our souls
illuminate a path for others.
Welcoming the New Month of Elul
As this Shabbat ends, we greet the arrival of the month of Elul, the season of soul-searching and preparation for the Yamim Nora’im, the High Holy Days. Elul invites us into the sacred practice of Cheshbon HaNefesh—taking an “account of the soul.”
Through daily reflection, journaling, and prayer, we begin the work of t’shuvah—returning to our truest selves and to the Holy One. Elul is not only about repentance; it is about renewal, realignment, and reawakening. Ultimately we are being asked the age-old question: What are we willing to do to prepare for transformation?
Blessing for the Month of Elul
As the month of Elul begins,
may the sound of the shofar awaken us to return—
to God, to community,
and to who we are at our core.
May this month of Elul
be one of reflection, introspection, and soul growth.
May we have the courage to look inward,
the strength to release what no longer serves us,
the humility to ask for forgiveness,
and the ability and desire to make amends.
May this sacred season of soul-accounting
open our eyes to new ways
we can make a difference
in the year ahead.
An Elul Exploration– Zoom Workshop
I invite you to join a community T’shuvah journey this Elul as we look at the practice of Cheshbon HaNefesh (Accounting of the Soul) through the lenses of Reflection, Release, Repair, and Return. Each gate offers a pathway to prepare for the High Holy Days with intention.
Each week, we will open our hearts through meditation, music, guided journaling, sharing and creative practices.
When: Wednesday nights in Elul from 9:00–10:30 PM ET
Where: Online via Zoom
Cost: No charge to attend—registration required to receive the link, guided journaling pages, and handouts.
New Book Update
I’m excited to share that my upcoming book is now titled Illuminated Journey.
In addition to the 54 Torah-inspired prayers and illustrations, the book includes sections on Visual Midrash, illustrated prayers, and my creative process. More than five years in the making, I’ll be sending the files to press next week, and the book will be available in January!
I am deeply grateful to Rabbi Menachem Creditor for the beautiful foreword he so graciously wrote.
Here’s a sneak peek at the new cover design:
Journaling Questions
As we reflect on the themes of Re’eh and prepare our hearts for Elul, here are some prompts to guide your journaling and spiritual practice this week:
- As Elul begins, what areas of your life most need reflection, release, repair, or return?
- What spiritual or creative practices help you live with greater intention and clarity of choice?
- In what ways does kindness shape the choices you make?
- What “inner voices” influence your decisions—and how can you listen more deeply to the voice of your soul?
Closing Blessing
May we walk together into this new month with hope in our hearts,
and have the courage to open our eyes and see things as they truly are.
May we find the strength to stand in our truth,
and do what is right, rather than what is easy.
May our choices be rooted in kindness,
our words infused with love,
and our actions aligned with our highest values.
And may our choices illuminate not only our own paths,
but also the paths of those who walk beside us.