Whose Team Are You On?

Elul has arrived, beginning the process that leads us into Rosh Hashanah. Rosh Hashanah is also called Yom Zichron Teruah, the day of remembering the sound of the shofar. We blow the shofar every day of Elul and on Rosh Hashanah to remind Hashem of our good deeds. Even if we don’t have too much worth remembering, we hope He’ll remember the merit of our ancestors, as far back as Avraham, and as recent as a holy elter zeide.

All relationships are two-sided and our relationship with Hashem is no exception. At this time of year, Hashem remembers us and we make the extra effort to remember Him (Leket Sichos Mussar). Hashem never forgets His part of the pact, but we do. (As my son-in-law, who has an excellent memory, once commented to his wife, “In your family, they think having a memory is a superpower!” So true.)

Mutual Caring

How often do we remember to make Hashem front and center in our mind? Though we utter countless “Baruch Hashems” during the day, are we actually thinking and remembering to be thankful to Him? How many times a day do we think about what He wants from us instead of what we want from Him?

Bayla and Yaakov have been married for 19 years. Yaakov considers himself blessed, with good children and a wife whom he loves. Most nights, Bayla sets the table before they sit down to dinner, but if she didn’t get a chance, Yaakov will often get up and bring a single cup to the table.