When I was a young adult, a kid whose interfaith family belonged to our
temple asked her mom if she could give up Hebrew school for Lent.
Her sentiment resonates with me.
More than opting out of some of this year’s High Holiday services, though,
I need to give up the guilt that seems to go hand-in-hand with opting out.
In fact, I need to give up all the guilt and pressure and judgment and reproach I regularly and all too harshly impose upon myself about, well, nearly
everything.
I’m not quite sure how to do this giving up, or even where to start, but I
do believe that turning away from guilt and reproach and blame and shame
will help me point myself toward being a better, more fulfilled, and less
anxious person in the new year.
Inspired by
Ima on (and off) the Bima
, this #BlogElul post is one in a series marking the days of the Hebrew
month of Elul, which precede the Jewish High Holidays and traditionally
serve as a time of reflection and spiritual preparation for the new year.