On Rosh Hodesh Elul

Rosh haShanah, the Jewish
Lunar New Year (kind of….
We mix up sun and moon, and
Leap about seven times in
Nineteen years), comes in
Twenty nine days, Tishri following
Elul.  

We spend the month
Getting ready for a 
Most solemn party, 
Full of drink and song, 
Reflection, retrospection,
And, if we attend to
The texts thrust into our
Hands when walking into
Shul (what, walk into what?
Where? Really?),
We offer praise and appreciation
To the single holy 
Incomprehensible, utterly
Other and closest-of-close 
Infinite One. If we attend
To the texts. 

If we attend to the
Texts, and traditions, and 
The unceasing flow of words,
We might briefly apprehend
What that gratitude and praise 
Implies. If and if.

Isn’t a new start, a
New Year, another set of
Old, and maybe new,
Ifs and ifs?  Ifs and
Hopes? Ifs and prayers
Of ifs and hopes? 

Let this month of Elul
Be a productive month for 
Me. Let me put behind what should
Be left behind (out out damned 
Virus!). What should be
Recalled, who should be
Remembered, let me make
My list. And may I be
Released from
What should be
Forgiven, if not forgotten. 

Let this new moon 
Prepare me for the
Coming new moon
And may the Infinite One
Be gracious with us all. 

(Written during our Covid days…)