Return
and prepare for the High Holy Days with us during Elul.
The month of Elul allows us to prepare our entire selves for the New Year. Please read below for all the ways you can take part in this transformation.
Elul Book Club with Rabbi Noah Westreich
Wednesdays
September 11, 18 & 25
6:30 - 8:00 PM
Star of the Sea
Every soul needs to express itself. Every heart needs to crack itself open. Every one of
us needs to move from anger to healing, from denial to consciousness, from boredom to
renewal. These needs did not arise yesterday. They are among the most ancient of
human yearnings, and they are fully expressed in the pageantry and ritual of the Days
of Awe, in the great journey we make between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
– This is Real and You Are Completely Unprepared, p. 9
Overview
Step into the sacred rhythm of Elul, (the month preceding the High Holy Days) a time
steeped in introspection and spiritual readiness. Embark on a journey of self-discovery
and transformation with the Elul Book Club as we delve into the timeless wisdom of
Rabbi Alan Lew's masterpiece, This Is Real and You Are Completely Unprepared: The
Days of Awe as a Journey of Transformation.
*Each of the sessions will build upon each other, but they can also stand alone – you may
sign up for any or all of the study sessions. Please register for each session you plan to
attend.*
Book
Purchase of the book is highly encouraged. Please support your local
independent bookseller! PDFs of the selected chapters will also be made
available to participants.
Title: This Is Real and You Are Completely Unprepared: The Days of
Awe as a Journey of Transformation
Author: Rabbi Alan Lew
Schedule
Book Club registrants: the Elul Book Club schedule has changed, and we thank you for your patience as we restructure the remaining three sessions.
M̶e̶e̶t̶i̶n̶g̶ O̶n̶e̶ (Canceled)
Wednesday, September 4
Topic: Understanding the task of spiritually preparing for the Days of Awe. In this session we’ll sketch out the journey and begin to make inroads on what is being asked of us.
Read: Chapter One, “The Soul Stretches Out to Contain Itself: A Map of the Journey”
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Meeting Two
Wednesday, September 11
Topic: Translated as return or repentance, teshuvah is the underlying principle of the season. In this session we’ll unpack what it means, how it has been understood, and how to perceive it today.
Read: Chapter Two, “Everywhere He Went, He Was Heading for Home: Teshuvah”
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Meeting Three
Wednesday, September 18
Topic: During the month of Elul the shofar (ram’s horn) is blown each day, an alarm clock that is meant to tell us to wake up and get ready.
Read: Chapter Four, “The Horn Blew and I Began to Wake Up: Elul”
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Meeting Four
Wednesday, September 25
Topic: Selichot is the name of the service that takes place on the Saturday night before Rosh Hashanah. It contains prayers and songs asking forgiveness and healing. With less than one week to go before Rosh Hashanah, this concluding session will prepare us to enter through the gates of the Days of Awe with integrity and humility.
Read: Chapter Five, “This Is Real and You Are Completely Unprepared: Selichot"
Selichot
Saturday, September 28
11:00 pm - 12:00 am
Oneg at 10:15 pm
Main Sanctuary
Selichot is the first major ritual to transition us into a High Holy Days mindset. Traditionally, at Selichot, ancient penitential prayers are recited late at night or in the early hours of the morning, a time considered especially powerful for reflection and repentance. Gathering in the stillness of the night creates a profound atmosphere, allowing us to open our hearts and souls as we prepare for the Days of Awe.
This year, we are offering a one-of-a-kind Selichot service that promises to be both meaningful and memorable. The evening will begin with an Oneg of delicious pastries and fragrant Moroccan tea, setting the stage for a serene and reflective experience. Our service will be candlelit, acoustic, and unplugged, creating an intimate and peaceful environment where the prayers can resonate deeply within each of us.
High Holy Day Mikvot
The High Holy Days are a time where we open ourselves up and look deep inside our souls to examine who we have been and who we want to be. We confront who we are and what we can change, as well as what we cannot control.
Men's Mikvah with Rabbi Ryan Bauer
Friday, October 4, 7:00 - 8:30 am
Meet at Baker Beach
Meditate, chant and immerse yourself in the breathtaking Pacific Ocean at this year’s men’s mikvah. Bringing warm clothes and a towel is encouraged. This mikvah is for male-identifying community members and ends in time for participants to attend our Rosh HaShanah Day 2 morning service.
Women's Mikvah with Rabbi Sydney Mintz and Rena Singer
Friday, October 4, 8:00 - 9:30 am
Meet at Baker Beach
Our 8:00 am mikvah for female-identifying community members continues our serene annual mikvah tradition at Baker Beach. Please bring warm clothes, a towel and an open heart.
