I am My Beloved’s and my Beloved is mine
Today. We begin again…today. Tonight’s moon represents a turning. A REturning. To a place of beginning. Of renewal. Of healing.
It is Rosh Chodesh Elul. Thirty days from now, we will close this year. Reflecting on what has transpired. Of missed opportunities. Of loved ones now gone from this world. And we begin the process of repentance. Of reconciliation. Of return.
With eyes full of wonder, our Sages sought meaning buried deep within the layers of text. A closer examination of the name of this month, Elul, reveals that the letters can serve as an acronym for a verse from Song of Songs.
אֲנִי לְדוֹדִי וְדוֹדִי לִי I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.
Often regarded as love poetry between a man and a woman, the Rabbis have long seen it as an allegorical portrait of the relationship between God and the People Israel. The Beloved, therefore, being God. As in, “I am my God’s and my God is mine.”
I am moved deeply by the intimacy that this sets up between God and us. Between God and me. The closing line from a favourite piyut chanted during Yom Kippur morning reminds us of this sacred and loving relationship.
כי אנו רעיתך ואתה דודנו We are Your Beloved and You are our Dearest
As we make our way through this month, may we sense again God’s Nearness and Love.
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Looking for some daily inspiration through this preparatory month? Sign up for the Jewels of Elul. To compliment this project, a daily Blogging tour will feature essays and words of wisdom from various voices within the Jewish world — including Frume Sarah’s. The tour kicks off with a stunning poem written by the Ima.
Frume Sarah is Shabbos-observant -- in a Reform way, that is. Please note that from Friday afternoons until one hour after sundown on Saturday evenings, Frume Sarah will be unavailable, in observance of the Jewish Sabbath.
Comments made during this time will be held in a queue, to be moderated afterwards.
Thank you for your understanding...and gut Shabbos!!! 
Frume Sarah's World 
Adonai li v’lo ira.
Gam ani.
And now… it is Elul.
Sorry for all the false alarms! I can’t wait to read your Jewels post!
Yes it is.
I am so scatterbrained that I really did worry that I had miscounted the days of the month and was off by a day. Silly Rabbi…
Love this. I focused on the ELUL acronym several years ago … I was debating whether to work it into my Jewels of Elul post for Friday … oh decisions decisions 🙂
Thanks. I have long been captivated by the ELUL acronym and its potential. Thought it would be a nice way to start off the month. Looking forward to reading your post.
beautiful. thanks for the shoutout:-)
Any time. Your poetry really is stunning.