Elul begins

Now that Rik is back to the normal school schedule, I have resumed going to morning minyan. Imagine my surprise when on Monday morning we blew the shofar! Yes, the month of Elul has begun and that means a real wake-up call every day as we get ready for Rosh Hashanah. The shofar is loud, it's piercing, and it gives new meaning to the term "call to worship."

One thing I am learning about morning minyan -- the cycle of the year is brought home on a daily or regular basis. Summer has definitely ended, Jewishly speaking, and we are in the throes of preparing for a new year.