4 Weeks of Elul 5765
Week Two: Personal and Professional Relationships

This time of Cheshbon Ha-nefesh during the month of Elul causes us to question assumptions about the central relationships in our lives. Almost every aspect of our lives involves other people. We have different kinds of relationships: personal, professional, romantic and platonic. And yet, all of our dealings with others have the potential for holiness. The Torah teaches that every person is created in the image of God. How we treat others must reflect this awareness.

The Mishnah teaches that on Yom Kippur the sins we have committed against God will be forgiven if we are truly repentant. The sins we commit against others, however, cannot be forgiven unless and until we have asked those whom we have wronged to forgive us. Now is the time to question both the expectations and behaviors that we take for granted in all of our relationships. The following questions are designed to make us think about the current status of the many different relationships in our lives. Again, this is by no means a complete list. Hopefully it will provide you with a starting point for improving the relationships in your lives.

1. Are there any relationships in my life that are damaged? Have I done all that I could to repair them?
2. Are there people I have wronged that I need to ask to forgive me?
3. Will I be able to forgive those who come to me to ask for my forgiveness?
4. Have I taken part in any business or personal transactions this past year that were against my religious, moral or ethical principles?
5. Have I taken time recently to let the most important people in my life know how much I care about them?
6. Have I done all that I could to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina?
7. Have I shut out the pain of others in other parts of the world? In my country? My City? My congregation? My neighborhood? My family?

Again, I want to hear from you regarding these messages. I welcome your comments and suggestions. I can be reached by phone (883-1818) or e-mail (). These questions will also be available in hard copy at the Temple Office. If you know of anyone else who might want to receive these lists, contact our list administrator, .

L'shanah Tovah U'metukah - May you have a good and sweet new year,

Rabbi Joseph R. Black
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P.S. If you have not already done so, make sure that you register to receive an absentee ballot in the upcoming elections that will take place on Rosh Hashanah. This link will provide you with the proper form for requesting a ballot. The deadline for submission is September 30th.