08/10/2026
Elul—the Hebrew month leading up to Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur and the last month of the Jewish year—is often called the month of mercy.
Elul is underpinned by spiritual reflection and renewal as we prepare for the days of awe and an opportunity to be given the gift of another year of life.
The acronym Elul, comes from "ani l’dodi v’dodi li," which translates to "I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine." As we prepare for our personal t’shuvah and to return to a better, more whole version of ourselves, Elul also reminds us to return to God and to return to each other in love. While the term "ani l’dodi v’dodi li" is often used in reference to romantic love, it is also a reminder to treat ourselves and each other with love, as the shofar’s blast can be thought of as a loving cry, calling us back home to ourselves and our community.
As we ground ourselves in introspection and spiritual accounting, members of the CCAR Board members share what they’re reflecting on during Elul, and what is bringing them joy, hope, love, and connection in this moment.
Here, we share the insightful reflections of CCAR Board member Rabbi Gary Glickstein.
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“‘Remember the days of old… ask your elders, and they will tell you.’ (Deuteronomy 32:7)
My own family’s story embodies that command. My parents, grandparents, and in‑laws endured the full weight of Jewish history—pogroms, the Depression, devastating wars, death camps, expulsions, and relentless antisemitism.
Yet in my lifetime, I have witnessed a different chapter: the rebirth of the State of Israel, the ingathering of Jews from the Middle East, the Soviet Union, Ethiopia, and beyond, and the flourishing of a confident, creative Jewish Diaspora. Remembering their past and seeing my present, I cannot help but stand in a place of hope." —Rabbi Gary Glickstein
