Day 3 - Reunions
Our middle child lived in a bunk at a Jewish overnight camp (Ramah Darom!) for the first time in his life. After 1.5 years of being with his family for so much time, there were admittedly some homesickness and sadness despite having a great time. My wife and daughter surprised us on our way back, and our son gave his little sister the biggest hug I've ever seen! And their smiles brought a tear to my eye. What makes reunions so magical?
The month of Elul is all about reunions. Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi wrote the following in his work, Likutei Torah (Parashat Re'eh):
It is known that the month of Elul is the time of the revelation of God's Thirteen Attributes of Mercy... There is a story told of a king. As he approached his capitol at the end of a journey, the people of the city would go to out to the fields to receive and welcome him. And everyone who so desired could go out to greet him and would be received with favor and graciousness, and the king would smile upon every one of his subjects. And as he made his way into the city, they would follow him in a procession. But after his return to his palace, no one would be allowed an audience in his throne room without permission, which was granted only to the chosen and to the most select individuals. In the same way, during the month of Elul, Jews go out “to the fields” to greet the light of the Divine Countenance, for it is written: “May God lift up His countenance upon you and grant you peace” (Numbers 6:26). Thus God’s Thirteen Attributes are illuminated “face-to-face,” for it is through them that God reveals the inner essence of His will...to those who cleave to him with all their heart and soul, from the depths of their hearts and with the utmost devotion.
Writing Prompt:
Take 10 minutes and write about a face-to-face reunion you had. Try and write about the whole experience, what steps led to it, why you had the reunion, why it was important to you and them, the surprising feelings you had before, during and after the reunion.
Bonus Material! A poem inspired by this teaching:
Elul: The king in the field
Stark against the skyline
stands the palace of the king
set in solitary splendor,
while in surrounding fields
his subjects toil at sundry tasks.
Rays of sun against the azure vault
are mirrored
in an undulating sea of golden wheat.
A gentle zephyr parts a pathway, as
upright wheat stalks bend aside in homage.
The farmer turns, his eyes alight,
a smile of welcome kindled
on his weather-beaten face,
his mud-encrusted hands
holding tightly to the scythe.
His heart leaps, for the year
has come full spin once more
– the king is in the field.
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