The month preceding the High Holy Days, Elul, is a time set aside in the Jewish calendar for reflection and contemplation. Barbara Lesch McCaffry and Basha Hirschfeld will be leading a series of contemplative discussions based on the late Rabbi Alan Lew's book, This is Real and You Are Completely Unprepared: The Days of Awe as a Journey of Transformation. We will be exploring the deep themes of Tisha B'Av, Selichot, Rosh Hashanah, and Yom Kippur, and how those seasons also describe and influence the experience and the work of our souls.
There is no requirement to have read the book as handouts with important excerpts will be provided which we hope will be the basis for lively and deep discussion. Optional, but not required: if you would like to read the book, it is available in both paperback and Kindle formats.
Please come to deepen and prepare for the High Holy Days in community with others.
- Sunday, August 25, from 3-5 PM (Tisha B’Av –excerpts from Chapters 1-3)
- Sunday, September 8, from 3-5 PM (Selichot -- excerpts from Chapters 4-5)
- Sunday, September 15, from 3-5 PM (Rosh Hashanah – excerpts from Chapters 6-7)
- Sunday, September 22, from 3-5 PM (Yom Kippur – excerpts from Chapters 8-10)
The fee for the series is $20 for Ner Shalom members, $40 for non-members. Individual sessions are $10/ for members, $15 for non-members.