Recently, someone I know told me he greatly admires my tireless efforts at reinventing and re-imagining myself. Although I didn't tell him so, it's something I learned from Jewish tradition, and I've been doing it for much of my life.
At one point during the summer after my college graduation, I received several different job offers at once. None of them was the right one for me and, thankfully, my parents encouraged me not to accept any of them, and to begin my search anew.
Bereshit...
More than a decade ago, after 13 years in a beige and boring marriage, I finally gathered enough courage to leave it all behind, moving home to the east coast to find a new job, a new home and a new life. I've never looked back.
Bereshit...
Each year, as we celebrate the birthday of the world, our tradition provides us with an opportunity to wipe the slate clean, to turn over a new leaf, and to make a fresh start.
Bereshit...
Baruch atah Adonai elohaynu melech ha'olam who allows us to reinvent, recreate, and re-image ourselves and to begin anew, again and again. Amen.
Inspired by Ima on (and off) the Bima,this post is one in a series marking the days of the Hebrew month of Elul, which precedes the Jewish High Holidays and traditionally serves as a time of reflection and spiritual preparation for the new year.
