E-L-U-L: Putting the Pieces Together

 

We all know about the E-L-U-L acronym, a verse that has words beginning with א-ל-ו-ל that can teach us how to utilize Elul as a month of preparation for the High Holidays.

The most famous is “Ani L’dodi V’dodi Li – I am for my beloved, and my beloved is for me.” (Shir Hashirim 6:3) Elul is a time for recapturing a close, loving relationship with God.

A lesser-known acronym is: “Ish L’rei’ay’hu U’matanot La’evyonim - One gives a gift to another and charity for the poor.” (Esther 9:22) While the verse speaks about the obligations of Purim, it also teaches us the importance of establishing and strengthening generous relationships with others. Our High Holiday preparations must focus on people and not just on God.

Here’s an acronym I bet nobody has heard of. Rabbi Natan Nata Spira, a 17^th century Kabbalist, writes that the letters of Elul stand for “Aron Luchot Ve-shivrei Luchot – the ark, the tablets, and the broken tablets.”

The Sages teach these three holy objects were kept together. Why were the broken tablets kept together with the new set of whole ones in the Ark? The lesson is that future accomplishment does not negate the mistakes of the past. We are who we are because of all the things we did to get to this point – the good and the not so good. This powerful symbolism is a timely reminder that, no matter our mistakes – or maybe because of them, we have the ability to put the pieces back together in the coming year.

John Roedel is a comic who became well-known as a writer and poet through his heartfelt Facebook conversations that went viral and became a best-selling book titled, “Hey God. Hey John.” Here is one of his poems.

Me:  Hi God
God:  Hello, my love
Me:  I'm falling apart. Can you put me back together?
God:  I would rather not
Me:  Why?
God:  Because you aren't a puzzle
Me:  What about all the pieces of my life that are falling down onto the ground?
God:  Let them stay there for a while. They fell off for a reason. Take some time to decide if you need any of those pieces back
Me:  You don't understand! I'm breaking down!
God:  No! You don't understand. You are breaking through. What you feel are just growing pains. You are shredding the things and the people in your life that are holding you back. You aren't falling apart. You are falling into place. Relax. Take some deep breaths, and allow those things that you don't need anymore to fall off of you. Quit holding onto the pieces that don't fit you anymore. Let them fall off. Let them go.
Me:  Once I start doing that what will left of me?
God:  Only the very best pieces of you.
Me:  I'm scared of changing.
God:  I keep telling you - YOU AREN'T CHANGING. YOU ARE BECOMING!
Me:  Becoming who?
God:  Becoming who I created you to be! A person of light and love and charity and hope and courage and mercy and joy and mercy and grace and compassion. I made you for more than the shallow pieces you have decided to adorn yourself. With that you cling to with such greed and fear. Let those things fall off of you. I love you! Don't change! Become! Become! Become who I made you to be. I'm going to keep telling you this until you remember it.
Me:  There goes another piece
G0d:  So let it be
Me:  So...I'm not broken?
God:  No, but you are breaking like dawn. It's a new day, a day of becoming. Become! Become.

There are lots of ways to prepare for the High Holidays, many messages our tradition gives us. While we strive to improve and correct, let’s also examine the many pieces that make us who we are and find the best way to put them together. Like any puzzle, it requires patience and may even get a little frustrating. When all is said and done, though, we need to fit them all together to create the finished product.