#BlogElul 4: Counting

We Jews are always counting.
Think about it.

We count the days until Shabbat.
We count the days until Rosh Chodesh.
We count the Omer.
We count the days between Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur.
We count the days until brit milah.
We count the Chanukah lights.
We count the books of the Torah and the Mishnah and the Talmud.

We count the heads needed for a minyan.

Wait...no we don't.

We need 10 for a minyan, yes, but our tradition does not really allow us to count those heads.

Image source unknown

Why? Because people are precious. They are sacred. They are not like jewels or gold or money or sheep or any of the other things of which we keep a count.

People matter.

Sure, it might sound like a superstition. And maybe it is. But it makes you stop and think. It is a strong reminder of what is really important.

People.

We can count prayerbooks or kippot or make up any system we want for ensuring 10 heads at a minyan. But in the end, it's the people who matter.

We count a lot.
But we have to remember what really counts.

The Jewish month of Elul, which precedes the High Holy Days, is traditionally a time of renewal and reflection. It offers a chance for spiritual preparation for the Days of Awe. It is traditional to begin one’s preparation for the High Holy Days during this month with the Selichot, the prayers of forgiveness. We look to begin the year with a clean slate, starting anew, refreshed. All month, along with others, I'll be blogging a thought or two for each day to help with the month of preparation... I will be blogging here, and sharing #Elulgram photos on the same themes at imabima.tumblr.com. Follow me on twitter @imabima for all the #BlogElul posts, not only mine but others' as well!

Share your BlogElul and Elulgram posts for Day 4 in the Linky below!
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