Intimacy Retreat

If we think of our relationship with Hashem in terms comparable to a marriage,  the month of Elul is like a special romantic retreat before a recommitment ceremony. During marriage retreats we would focus on our partner, spend time doing exercises during which we really express our feelings, and basically prioritize the relationship trying to iron out any underlying bumps in the communication or connection, so that when we would celebrate our recommitment to the relationship, we could do it with a full heart!

Rosh Hashana is the recommitment ceremony!
On Rosh Hashanah we are going to proclaim Hashem as king, but in order to do that, we need our relationship to be in order, so we can do it with a full heart. Elul is the time to fix this relationship with Hashem, if in fact it has become a little estranged or if there are any festering issues. There are aspects to the month of Elul that lend itself to this special work . Elul is compared to a " city of refuge", being a refuge in time, not space. Elul is connected to the Aramaic translation of the Hebrew word , " to spy out", hisaro, hinting to us that this is an opportune time to " spy" out the inner landscape of our beings, and of course, Elul corresponds to the phrase " ani ledodi ve dodi li", being the acronym for the first letter of each of the words in that famous phrase, " I am to my beloved and my beloved is to me.."

So I bless each one if us, to take the opportunity of Elul, and we know that it is never too late,
To open ourselves to the beauty and the richness of a deep relationship with Hashem, with our deepest selves and with our true destiny!
Shana Tova!
With love and light,
Bracha.