Showing Up To Sense His Compassion

Photo by Megs Harrison on Unsplash

I had the joy of participating in camp this morning by blowing the Shofar for the campers. (And apparently they are calling me back in a few minutes for a Dunk the Rabbi session!)

Today is the first day of the month of Elul- the month that precedes the Jewish New Year. While blowing the Shofar on Rosh Hashanah is a key mitzvah of the holiday, blowing the shofar every day this month is a custom that has become part of tradition.

Today’s shofar blowing reminds us that the gates of heaven are open and G-d’s compassion is flowing more freely toward us. (It was on this exact date 3,335 years ago, when Moses asked G-d for his compassionate forgiveness for the Jewish people’s sin of the golden calf.)

Every day, all year long, G-d is compassionate, but the month of Elul has become known as the month when “the King is in the field”. We do not need special invitations, special connections or to obtain security clearance. He is close by and He is accessible to all. BUT we do need to do our part and show up.

By way of analogy, think in terms of the partner or the parent who is willing to make amends, willing to give with abundance or eager to connect with full compassion despite prior misgivings.

They are there present and waiting, but you need to show up on your end to receive it. What would showing up look like? Perhaps through presence, communication, or one of your preferred love languages.

With G-d, showing up would be in one of HIS love languages.

Even more simplistically, think of it like a pair of 3D glasses. The movie is showing in 3D images, but unless you put the glasses on you wont be able to sense the special affects. G-d is present and giving with compassion, but you need to show up to sense it in your life.

To absorb and sense His compassion during this month, Kabbalah suggests giving extra charity. Since charity is your way of showing compassion, it is therefore the tool for perceiving G-d’s compassion. Another suggestion in Chassidic tradition is to recite designated chapters of King David’s Psalms.

Of course there are also the other ways of showing up to G-d’s presence- Through doing a mitzvah, saying a prayer or doing an act of kindness.

The point remains the same- today’s shofar is our reminder that all we have to do is show up.

Wishing you a Shabbat Shalom.