Repairing Together

The sound of the shofar is heard in the synagogues from the beginning of the month of Elul. The Selichot of the Sephardim, who rise early from the beginning of the month, and the Selichot of the Ashkenazim, who joined this week, mark an opening for a pause. For a request. For forgiveness. For repair and a new beginning. Elul in its essence unites many, many of us in a desire to sum up the year and to understand how the one that follows it will be better and healthier — how we can preserve all the good that was, and change and improve what was less good. With the hearing of the sound of the shofar there is the hope of a whole people that desires and wishes to be better. And accordingly it will be better.