EMBRACING DIVINE ATTRIBUTES OF MERCY
ELUL 5785 MESSAGE FROM CANTOR BETH, September 12, 2025
In the book of Exodus 34:6-7, after the sin of the golden calf, Moses ascends Mt. Sinai and pleads with G‑d to forgive the Jewish people. G-d then reveals to Moses the Shelosh Esrei Middot – 13 attributes of mercy - a series of divine attributes to give people a way to obtain mercy and forgiveness when they sin and miss the mark. Many people discuss the fact that we are told many times in our scriptures that its G-d’s nature to forgive us, so why do we need these attributes and why are they such a big part of our liturgy during the High Holidays and Selichot (Forgiveness) services? During the Selichot service, we recite them for a total of 9 times (3 x 3) as we will do together this Saturday evening, September 13th. Sephardic Jews and many Orthodox Jews recite all of the Selichot prayers in the early morning for the entire month of Elul.
There are a few different versions of the 13 Attributes of Mercy – here is a common one in Hebrew, Transliteration and English followed by a Spanish version:
י-ה-ו-ה / Hashem — compassion before a person sins;
י-ה-ו-ה / Hashem — compassion after a person has sinned;
א-ל / G‑d — mighty in compassion, to give all creatures according to their need;
רַחוּם / rachum — merciful /compassionate that humankind may not be distressed;
וְחַנּוּן / ve’chanun — and gracious if humankind is already in distress;
אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם / erech apayim — slow to anger;
וְרַב-חֶסֶד / ve’rav chesed — and plenteous in kindness;
וֶאֱמֶת / ve’emet — and truth;
נֹצֵר חֶסֶד לָאֲלָפִים / notzer chesed laalafim — keeping kindness unto thousands;
נֹשֵׂא עָוֹן / noseh avon — forgiving iniquity;
וָפֶשַׁע / vafeshah — and transgression;
וְחַטָּאָה / VeChata'ah — and sin;
וְנַקֵּה / VeNakeh — and pardoning (cleansing).
Los Trece Atributos de Misericordia:
Eterno, Eterno, Dios poderoso, misericordioso y pródigo en gracia, paciente y abundante en amor y verdad, que preserva la bondad para miles (de generaciones), perdona la iniquidad, la transgresión y el pecado y absuelve.
Many use the 13 attributes as a meditation to inspire, or as a guide to see which ones speak to them depending on what is needed for support and growth. To some, there is a mysterious sense that there is some type of magical power in them just from repeating them aloud. Our traditions also tell us that it’s through our hard work, teshuvah (repenting/ returning) and doing mitzvote (holy work) that will heal our world. The soul-searching and healing that I try to do – especially during this time of year - and most especially during this time in our history, can feel intimidating and overwhelming. During the month of Elul, it is said that the 13 middot – 13 attributes of mercy – los trece atributos de misericordia - are “shining” for the entire month. The month of Elul also gives us a head start to focus on our important work of soul searching and healing the world before the high holidays even begin.
I hope that the attributes “shine” for you and inspire you in your work of cheshbon hanefesh (accounting of the soul) as they do for me. I look forward to sharing our deepest prayers together during these holy days as well as sharing in our work of Tikkun Olam (healing the world) in the days ahead.
Tizku l’shanim rabot (May you merit many years) & Anyada buena, dulse i alegre (May you have good, sweet and happy years) -- Sephardic pre-Rosh Hashana greetings.
With love and appreciation of you all,
Cantor Beth
LISTEN to Nava Tehila’s version of the 13 attributes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_WtPtdoatU
And mizrahi version on SephardicU:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kA2SZONk_GA
ELUL MESSAGE FROM MARCIEL ROMERO, VA’AD PRESIDENT
Date: Elul 15,5785|September 8, 2025
The full moon of Elul is upon us, which means we are halfway through the month and in just two weeks we will be gathering together for Erev Rosh HaShanah! Below you will find a poem inspired by this week’s Torah portion - Ki Tavo.
נְדָרִים שְׁלֵמוֹת | Unhewn Vows
Marciel Romero
כִּי־תֵצֵא
Qi-Tehtzeh
I set forth on my journey,
full of enemies of peace,
words of hate staked to trees,
problems created by others,
and those that I created.
נְדָרִים שַׂמְתּי בַטֶּנֶא
yet in my endeavors,
a basket is filled.
full of fresh harvest dreams,
and good words from my mouth.
vows waiting to be fulfilled.
זָבַת חָלָב וּדְבָשׁ
add more ingredients,
flavors of kindness,
to flow and sweeten,
like milk and honey.
וּלְבֵיתֶךָ אַתָּה וְהַלֵּוִי וְהַגֵּר אֲשֶׁר בְּקִרְבֶּךָ
everyone in the house
enjoy a hearty meal
fit for a stranger,
friendly and kin,
our student clergy,
or even just you.
וְשָׂמַחְתָּ בְכׇל־הַטּוֹב
curses are vented and cool the mood.
then the candles are lit,
together we rejoice, in all things good
with a break for each blessing.
until they melt to the pit,
enjoy the warm food.
יָמִין וּשְׂמֹאול
blessings in your return to your journey.
succeeding from centered and thoughtful decisions,
remembering which left pocket you put your vows,
or working on the right side of peace and justice.
זֵיתִים יִהְיוּ לְךָ
journeys toward a world,
sharing the olive trees,
with their finest oils,
hopefully fit to annoint,
all who are healing.
please do drive safe as well
layla tov
Deuteronomy 21:23, 23:24, 26:2, 26:9, 26:11, 28:14, 28:40, 29:8
ELUL MESSAGE FROM MAGGIDAH BATYA PODOS
Date: Elul 8, 5785 | September 1, 2025
From: Maggidah Batya Podos
A disciple of the Baal Shem Tov wanted, more than anything, to see the Prophet Elijah. He dreams of meeting the Prophet, imagines what he will say to him. When he brings his deepest desire to the Baal Shem Tov, his teacher tells him to bring boxes of clothes and food to a run-down cottage on the edge of town just before Rosh Hashanah. Then, he will see the Prophet Elijah.
As instructed, the young man gathers clothes that would fit a whole family, and fills a box with food. He goes to the cottage and waits nervously before he knocks. He hears children crying. They are hungry. Who will feed them? Don’t worry, their mother tells them, Elijah will provide.
When the mother opens the door to him, she is so grateful for the gifts. The student stays with the family for two days, helping wherever he can. But he is disappointed at not seeing Elijah. Where was the Prophet? The Baal Shem Tov had promised he would appear.
His teacher tells him to return to the same house before Yom Kippur. Again, the young man gathers food for the family. Again, he waits outside before knocking. This time when he hears the children cry, he hears their mother remind them not to worry. After all, didn’t the Prophet Elijah come to answer their prayers before and didn’t he stay two whole days with them?
These are difficult times. Many of us yearn for the Prophet Elijah, or the or the Hand of G*d, or the Mother Ship to show up, to intervene and help us out. But, unlike Torah times, there is no pillar of fire or pillar of cloud to guide us through this wilderness. Like the story, sometimes we’re the ones who need to show up, to intervene, to help. We’re the diference.
A Yiddish proverb reminds us that we never know if the person sitting next to us on the train is the meshiach. So, we must act as though they are. May we be blessed to recognize the Divine Spark in each one of us through the month of Elul and beyond.
(story adapted from Yitzhak Buxbaum: Chabad.org Stories)
ELUL MESSAGE FROM REB JOSIE
Date: Elul 2, 5785 | August 26, 2025
Dear community,
This weekend, we welcomed the new moon of Elul, an auspicious time in our tradition, where we are charged to begin the work of chesbon hanefesh - accounting of the soul - the spiritual work that will prepare us for, and carry us through the high holiday season.
Tradition teaches that the name of the month Elul is an acronym for Ani L’dodi V’dodi Li - I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine. In the context of Elul, this biblical verse invites us to cultivate a sense of belonging and ownership in our individual relationship with the Divine. We learn that these weeks preceding the New Year offer us a unique opportunity to seek intimacy with God.
In the month of Elul, there is a custom to hear the Shofar blown each day. The blasts of the Shofar are meant to rouse us from our slumber and call us to action in the work of cheshbon hanefesh. . The Shofar blasts are sounded in a distinct pattern - moving from Tekiah, a whole note, to shevarim, three seperate distinct blasts, to Teruah, an entirely shattered blast, before returning to Tekiah and beginning the cycle again. Rabbi Isaiah Horowitz, a prominent 17th century mystic, teaches that this cycle is to remind us of the impermanence of both broken or whole states. The pattern of the shofar blasts is as if to say, “I started whole, I became broken, even splintered into fragments, but I will become whole again! I will become whole again!”
In times like these, when the brokenness of the world can feel insurmountable, I am grateful that we are given a full month to complete the work of waking up. Much like those mornings where I find myself hitting snooze two or three times, Elul offers us gentle on ramp to building the spiritual intimacy it asks of us. Over the next month, leaders and members of the Nahalat Shalom community will be offering teachings to guide us through the internal holy work of accounting what has been broken, and what is in need of repair.
Wishing you a chodesh tov - a good month. This Elul, may the cry of the shofar remind us to begin the work of gathering the pieces in need of mending, and shattering through that what is no longer serving us.
B’shalom,
Josie