A Life Well Lived

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 Last Thursday, I went to the National Jewish Retreat in Palm Springs. This year, the annual event was held in a place with one of the hottest temperatures, but it was a good preparation for my upcoming trip to Phoenix, which is even hotter, for the bris of of my grandson, born to our daughter Devorah Leah and Chaim Leib Halbert. (Truth is, I wouldn’t really know what the heat was like because I spent the entire time indoors.)


I went with a group of eight people from Palo Alto. We joined over 1,000 others in Palm Springs, spending close to a week learning, exploring life’s meaning, having great conversations, enjoying world class entertainment and - oh my gosh - the food!


Close to 80 of the world’s top lecturers, teachers, and guides spoke on a wide variety of Jewish topics, from the relevance of Talmud to our lives, to the confluence of Torah and science, to the history of Jewish music, to how to pray, to wine tasting and Challah baking. 


This was just the tip of the iceberg, and I saw people feeling inspired, empowered, entertained and energized by the farbrengens (spiritual gatherings), Chassidus classes, beginners services and much more. 


One of the wonderful messages I heard was from Rabbi Manis Friedman at his Shabbat afternoon talk related to the Jewish month of Elul which begins this Friday and the upcoming High Holidays.


Throughout the High Holiday period we pray that Hashem “give us life,” “Inscribe us in the book of life,” “remember us for life,” etc. Do we really think that if we do something wrong we will be destined to die this year and not make it to Rosh Hashana next year?  Is Hashem really such a punishing G-d? 


Hashem loves us and wants what is best for us. He created us and gave us the gift partnering with Him in creation. This is codified in many places in the written and oral Torah. He is not looking for opportunities to hurt us. On the contrary, if we mess up, He is understanding and patient and gives us many opportunities to get back on track.


This is the main focus of the month of Elul which begins tonight, when “the King is in the field,” that is, Hashem is available to anyone and everyone.  (See here for more).


The meaning of us beseeching G-d for life in the coming year, Rabbi Friedman said, is that we ask for a year truly lived. Our life is our soul, and when we feel that our soul is being expressed properly, that is life. A life detached from our soul and our purpose cannot be called real living.


As we celebrate Rosh Chodesh (the beginning of the month of) Elul today and tomorrow, may we all use this month of mercy and approachability to Hashem well. May we reconnect with life, and may we be blessed with a year truly lived.

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