hazzan Diana Brewer was ordained through the aleph ordination program. she leads prayer services regularly at the jewish community of amherst, and is on the staff of the davvenen leadership training institute.

Invitation to Elul Practice

Dear readers,

Shabbat evening ushered in the new moon of the month of Elul, our on-ramp to the High Holy Days - the Days of Awe. Elul offers us a chance to reflect over the course of the month upon the year gone by, to engage in the Teshuva - the turning and returning - that is the hallmark of these Awesome Days. Yes! You don’t have to do it all in 10 days or over the 25 hours of Yom Kippur!

For the past several years, I have been engaging in a guided program of spiritual writing throughout the month of Elul offered by poet, playwright, and advisor Merle Feld in collaboration with her daughter Lisa Feld. She offers prompts for writing for each week, as well as guidance on an approach to the work.

If you would like to take this nourishing spiritual journey, please visit derekh.org/elul

However you walk through this month, may your heart be opened, your vision be clear, and your spirit carried into a sweet new year!

The Shapes of Loss

For my dear friend BC