I don’t like it when the High Holy Days come so early. I always feel like I don’t have enough time to prepare my spirit for all that is to come, and I’m still in summer mode! Perhaps you are thinking the same way. 

But as I was thinking about it, a saying my dad, of blessed memory, used to say to me came into my mind: “Don’t curse your blessings.” He would remind me that even in difficult or frustrating moments, we have to look for the blessings, and sometimes even try to lift up the very things we are tempted to curse. Now, the Holy Days coming quickly certainly isn’t a curse! But think about all the little things we curse every day: when it’s too hot or too cold, when our food order comes out wrong, when traffic is terrible, or even when the people we love most drive us absolutely crazy. Sometimes our complaining is funny, and sometimes it’s simply part of being human. But what would happen if, every once in a while, we stopped and asked: Where is the blessing in this?

This week’s Torah portion, Ki Tavo, is filled with blessings and curses. We read, “Cursed be the one who dishonors father or mother” (Deuteronomy 27:16), but just a few verses later we hear, “Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out” (Deuteronomy 28:6). Our lives contain both. Perhaps the spiritual work is learning which ones we choose to hold onto.

Every Tuesday night right now, I have the blessing of listening to our Adult Volunteer Choir, Shir KI, rehearse for the High Holy Days. As I listen to them sing and prepare, something in me begins to shift. My heart opens a little more, and suddenly the Holy Days still feel early, but there is an abundance of beautiful music and prayer in our lives- a little EARLIER!

As we enter 5787, may we spend a little less time cursing what isn’t quite right and a little more time lifting up the blessings that have been there all along. As we draw closer to Selichot and to a New Year, I am reminded that our choir, our synagogue, and our community are among the great blessings of my life and all of our lives.  I hope that you will join us for our community Selichot service at Beth Sholom on Saturday, Sept. 5th.