Tonight is Rosh Chodesh Elul, a time of internal reflection, as the last month in the Hebrew calendar encourages us to prepare for the new year.
This is also the month when families begin preparing for the start of a new school year. It is not an easy time in any year – as we are called on to make all sorts of changes to our routines – but this year more than ever, Elul asks a lot of us in terms of preparation.
What do we gain by reading a detailed description about the building of the Mishkan, a structure which no longer exists? In fact, we can learn a number of important life lessons and principles from the building of the Mishkan, such as a life of Terumah, a life of giving.
Although there is not much spring to look at outside, in Israel, the month of Shvat brings visible signs of renewal and growth in nature, reminding us of the many parallels between the life cycles of the trees and other plants, and our own lives, especially in the field of education. As we gear up for Tu B’Shvat, regardless of the snow outside, we are becoming excited for a holiday that is all about planting.
