Tekia

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My mom and my 2 daughters at my mom's 2nd weddingToday is the first of two days of the new month.  The month of Elul.  The month before Rosh Hashana (which month is called Tishrei).  This means there is no moon in the sky last night or tonight.  (The Tora says- ‘there  was evening, there was morning’; the day starts on the eve…)

A shofar (Hebrew: שופר‎) is a horn used for Je...
A shofar (Hebrew: שופר‎) is a horn used for Jewish religious purposes. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

For most folks of my religion, it means we now hear the blowing of the shofar each morning.  A Tekia- a long, solemn blast. Reminding us to get ready for the Days of Awe.  To ask forgiveness from our friends and loved ones for any slights we may have proffered- intentionally or not.  To get our …. together, to become the better person we each hope to be.  It’s where the concept of new year’s resolutions all started.

So, if I slighted you or failed you in any way, I’m sorry.  (OK, if you are one of the multitudes of spammers who attack this site- I’m not.)

For me, this month has other meanings.  The first day of the new month is the anniversary of my daughter’s bat mitzva, her coming of age as a woman.  (The person about whom I wrote last week on her English birthday.   Today is her Hebrew one.)My mom and my 2 daughters on the day of her 2nd wedding

My mom and my 2 daughters on the day of her 2nd weddingTomorrow, the second day of the new moon is the anniversary of my mom’s death.  My mom managed to make both my daughters’ bat mitzvot, a prayer she made when my second daughter was born.  She almost didn’t- she had a series of mini-strokes (she didn’t know it at the time), causing her to fall and leave all sorts of bruises.  But, I reminded her of her prayer and she came (anyway) to my younger daughter’s event. And, had the time of her life. Because she went home to the hospital and never left.

She didn’t make my youngest son’s bar mitzva.  (We did use my mom’s inheritance to bring my younger daughter to London for her 16th birthday, a promise my mom obviously couldn’t fulfill. So, we did it for her.)

So, besides the Days of Awe, this minor holiday evokes many mixed emotions.  And, spurs me on to help my family become the folks they want to be.

I hope you achieve those goals, as well.

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