Books Read in 2015

I love to look back over the book post from each year. It's so weird to imagine my own life through the books I've read. Some of these, I can tell you exactly where I was and what I was doing while reading the books. Some of these, I only remember because the title is here on the list!

Stars next to the ones I would recommend....

1. Sinners and the Sea by Rebecca Kanner
2. Jacob's Oath by Martin Fletcher
3. Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty*
4. First Frost by Sarah Addison Allen*
5. I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson
6. The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laure Halse Anderson
7. The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters
8. The Boston Girl by Anita Diamant
9. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins*
10. If I Stay by Gayle Forman
11. The Good Girl by Mary Kubica*
12. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah*
13. The Comfort of Lies by Randy Susan Meyers
14. Accidents of Marriage by Randy Susan Meyers
15. After You by Jojo Moyes
16. Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin*
17. A Guide for the Perplexed by Dara Horn
18. My Heart is Laughing by Rose Lagercrantz
19. Dead Wake by Erik Larson
20. Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
21. Yes Please by Amy Poehler
22. To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han
23. Kindness Wins by Galit Breen
24. Safekeeping by Jessamyn Hope
25. The Betrayers by David Bezozgis
26. Even in Darkness by Barbara Stark-Nemon
27. Gangsterland by Tod Goldberg
28. The Day of Atonement by David Liss*
29. Secrets of a Charmed Life by Susan Meissner
30. The Angel of Losses by Stephanie Feldman
31. What I Remember Most by Cathy Lamb
32. The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes
33. The Broken Hearts Society of Suite 17C by LeighAnn Kopans*
34. The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen*
35. Uprooted by Naomi Novik
36. In the Unlikely Event by Judy Blume
37. Paper Towns by John Green
38. The English Spy by Daniel Silva
39. Nexus by Ramez Naam
40. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews
41. A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler*
42. Starglass by Phoebe North
43. Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers
44. Between You and Me: Confessions of a Comma Queen by Mary Norris
45. Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates*
46. The Invasion of the Tearling by Erika Johansen
47. Who Do You Love by Jennifer Weiner
48. Pretty Baby by Mary Kubica*
49. Uncaged by John Sandford
50. Outrage by John Sandford 
51. George by Alex Gino
52. We Are Not Ourselves by Matthew Thomas
53. Wishful Thinking by Kamy Wicoff
54. Did You Ever Have a Family by Bill Clegg
55. The Museum of Extraordinary Things by Alice Hoffman
56. The Secret Chord by Geraldine Brooks*
57. The Desert and the Blade by S. M. Stirling
58. Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff*
59. The Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
60. The Flood Girls by Richard Fifield
61. The Status of All Things by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke

And thanks to Goodreads, I know this:

What was the best book you read in 2015? (I hate to answer that question, by the way. See above - the starred ones are those that I would recommend most broadly. I think that it often really depends on the person to whom I'm doing the recommending!)

What's not on my list that you think I must read? 

What are you planning to read in 2016???

This is Five

#BlogElul 29: Return

Today we return to the beginning.
To the Rosh of the year, to the head where it all starts.

And yet this day has nothing to do with our heads.
And everything to do with our hearts.

May our hearts be open to the newness of the year.
May our hearts be filled with love and light for all that we know and meet.
May our hearts be joined together in bringing peace to the world.

From my family to yours, from my heart to yours,
may you be blessed in this new year with sweetness and love.

L'shana tova, a good and sweet year to us all.

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 prayers of forgiveness, but I like to think of it as a whole-person preparation activity. 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 and on Instagram @imabima. Follow me on twitter @imabima for all the #BlogElul posts, not only mine but others' as well! Read more about #BlogElul here.

#BlogElul 25: Intend

Intention matters.
I meant to do it.
I thought I would.

I intended to be there.
I planned to make it happen.

Intention matters.
Until we don't follow through.

Then it's just lost
in the
wind....

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 prayers of forgiveness, but I like to think of it as a whole-person preparation activity. 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 and on Instagram @imabima. Follow me on twitter @imabima for all the #BlogElul posts, not only mine but others' as well! Read more about #BlogElul here.

#BlogElul 24: Hope

"a feeling of expectation"
"a desire for a certain thing to happen"

what do you do when
hope
leaves?

how do you continue
to
believe
in it?

what do you do without it?

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 prayers of forgiveness, but I like to think of it as a whole-person preparation activity. 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 and on Instagram @imabima. Follow me on twitter @imabima for all the #BlogElul posts, not only mine but others' as well! Read more about #BlogElul here.

#BlogElul 21: Love

I look over and watch him.
And he feels my gaze, looks back at me.

Love.

It lifts and holds me.

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 prayers of forgiveness, but I like to think of it as a whole-person preparation activity. 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 and on Instagram @imabima. Follow me on twitter @imabima for all the #BlogElul posts, not only mine but others' as well! Read more about #BlogElul here.

#BlogElul 20: Dare

It takes a lot
to
dare
to
dream

to
dare
to
hope

to
dare
to
live

But what choice do we have, really?
We don't
dare
give
up.

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 prayers of forgiveness, but I like to think of it as a whole-person preparation activity. 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 and on Instagram @imabima. Follow me on twitter @imabima for all the #BlogElul posts, not only mine but others' as well! Read more about #BlogElul here.

#BlogElul 19: Judge

No.
You don't get to judge me.
You don't get to stand there, in Judgment on me.

No.
Perhaps it is my turn to judge You.

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 prayers of forgiveness, but I like to think of it as a whole-person preparation activity. 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 and on Instagram @imabima. Follow me on twitter @imabima for all the #BlogElul posts, not only mine but others' as well! Read more about #BlogElul here.

#BlogElul 18: Ask

One thing I ask of God; that is what I seek: to dwell in the house of God all the days of my life.
(Psalm 27)

One thing?
How can I only ask for one thing?

And yet...there's only one thing to want.

(Remembering this post....)

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 prayers of forgiveness, but I like to think of it as a whole-person preparation activity. 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 and on Instagram @imabima. Follow me on twitter @imabima for all the #BlogElul posts, not only mine but others' as well! Read more about #BlogElul here.

#BlogElul 17: Awaken

the very tips of my fingers
tingle
with anticipation
as
the world
awakens
to the crispness
of
the
fall

i awaken
each day
waiting to see
what new
delight
the world
has to offer:
the colors of leaves
the chill of the wind
the glistening of frost

each season
my senses
are
newly awakened
and reminded
of
the cycle
of time

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 prayers of forgiveness, but I like to think of it as a whole-person preparation activity. 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 and on Instagram @imabima. Follow me on twitter @imabima for all the #BlogElul posts, not only mine but others' as well! Read more about #BlogElul here.

#BlogElul 16: Pray

to pray
is
to
beg
plead
ask

to pray
is
to
praise
exalt
bless

to pray
is
to
thank
laud
appreciate

to pray
is
to
tell
talk
discuss

every breath is a prayer...

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 prayers of forgiveness, but I like to think of it as a whole-person preparation activity. 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 and on Instagram @imabima. Follow me on twitter @imabima for all the #BlogElul posts, not only mine but others' as well! Read more about #BlogElul here.

#BlogElul 15: Change

Change your clothes
change your hair
change your clock
change your outlook
change your attitude
change your world
change your socks

change your life...

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 prayers of forgiveness, but I like to think of it as a whole-person preparation activity. 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 and on Instagram @imabima. Follow me on twitter @imabima for all the #BlogElul posts, not only mine but others' as well! Read more about #BlogElul here.

#BlogElul 14: Learn

Every day, there's something
new
to
learn.

Every day, our brains create
new
pathways.

Every day,
as long as we are
willing,
we can learn.

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 prayers of forgiveness, but I like to think of it as a whole-person preparation activity. 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 and on Instagram @imabima. Follow me on twitter @imabima for all the #BlogElul posts, not only mine but others' as well! Read more about #BlogElul here.

#BlogElul 13: Remember

Think back over the past year.
Try to remember.
What was it like
last
September?
October?
November?
December?
January?
February?
March?
April?
May?
June?
July?

The memories are wisps
held together
made solid
by the calendar...

But they too fade
and all we have
are
floating distant
memories...

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 prayers of forgiveness, but I like to think of it as a whole-person preparation activity. 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 and on Instagram @imabima. Follow me on twitter @imabima for all the #BlogElul posts, not only mine but others' as well! Read more about #BlogElul here.

#BlogElul 12: Forgive

I still think that God
should be
asking
forgiveness
from
us.

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 prayers of forgiveness, but I like to think of it as a whole-person preparation activity. 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 and on Instagram @imabima. Follow me on twitter @imabima for all the #BlogElul posts, not only mine but others' as well! Read more about #BlogElul here.

#BlogElul 10: Count

I used to count
everything.
All the time.
Into fours.
one-two-three-four

One for you
and one for you
and one for you
and one for you.

But now there are only
three
where once there
were four.

I still count.
All the time.
one-two-three-silentfour

One for you
and one for you
and one for you
andsilentlyoneforyou.

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 prayers of forgiveness, but I like to think of it as a whole-person preparation activity. 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 and on Instagram @imabima. Follow me on twitter @imabima for all the #BlogElul posts, not only mine but others' as well! Read more about #BlogElul here.

#BlogElul 9: See

Seeing everything in color
is better than seeing
in black and white.

At least that's what they say.

But sometimes the world
feels softer
gentler
quieter
when you see it
in shades of gray...

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 prayers of forgiveness, but I like to think of it as a whole-person preparation activity. 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 and on Instagram @imabima. Follow me on twitter @imabima for all the #BlogElul posts, not only mine but others' as well! Read more about #BlogElul here.

#BlogElul 8: Hear

If you sit
really
really
really
still
then you can
hear
the sound of
growing grass
rising sun
floating feathers....

If you sit
really
really
really
still
then you can
hear
the sound of
your own heart
your own breath
your own self....

If you sit
really
really
really
still
then you can
hear
the sound of
light
faith
love...

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 prayers of forgiveness, but I like to think of it as a whole-person preparation activity. 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 and on Instagram @imabima. Follow me on twitter @imabima for all the #BlogElul posts, not only mine but others' as well! Read more about #BlogElul here.

#BlogElul 7: Be

Can you ever
be
yourself
if you're not sure
who
you
are?

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 prayers of forgiveness, but I like to think of it as a whole-person preparation activity. 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 and on Instagram @imabima. Follow me on twitter @imabima for all the #BlogElul posts, not only mine but others' as well! Read more about #BlogElul here.

#BlogElul 6: Know

Knowledge is power.
There's a certainty in
knowing.

Knowing what you
want
Knowing who you
are
Knowing why you
exist.

There's a concrete feeling.
A solidity.
Knowledge builds a foundation.

And when you don't know
cracks develop
in that foundation...
you have to steady yourself
a little more
wave your arms wildly around
trying to
keep your balance.

When you don't know
sometimes it's because
you
can't
know
everything.

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 prayers of forgiveness, but I like to think of it as a whole-person preparation activity. 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 and on Instagram @imabima. Follow me on twitter @imabima for all the #BlogElul posts, not only mine but others' as well! Read more about #BlogElul here.

#BlogElul 5: Accept

Elul asks us to
accept
that
we
must
change.

Elul asks us to
accept
that
we
are all
changeable.

Elul asks us to
accept
what
we
can't
change.

Elul asks us to
accept
ourselves
and
each
other.

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 prayers of forgiveness, but I like to think of it as a whole-person preparation activity. 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 and on Instagram @imabima. Follow me on twitter @imabima for all the #BlogElul posts, not only mine but others' as well! Read more about #BlogElul here.

#BlogElul 4: Understand

We seek understanding.
We want to know.
We want to "get it."
We want to comprehend.

Some things
are
far
far
far
beyond
understanding.

But that doesn't stop me
from
trying.

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 prayers of forgiveness, but I like to think of it as a whole-person preparation activity. 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 and on Instagram @imabima. Follow me on twitter @imabima for all the #BlogElul posts, not only mine but others' as well! Read more about #BlogElul here.

#BlogElul 3: Search

Looking.
Seeking.
Hunting.
Exploring.
Wondering.
Questing.
Inspecting.

In Elul we search.
But...
do we ever find?

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 prayers of forgiveness, but I like to think of it as a whole-person preparation activity. 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 and on Instagram @imabima. Follow me on twitter @imabima for all the #BlogElul posts, not only mine but others' as well! Read more about #BlogElul here.

#BlogElul 2: Act

It's all an act.
Every day.
Putting on a mask to
find the quiet space
inside.

It's all an act.
Every day.
Getupgetdressedgetgoing.

It's all an act.
Every day.
A piece of the story
always
missing.

It's all an act.
Every day.
Smiling through
tears.
Breathing
in and out.

It's all an act.
And yet
it's somehow
it's all
real.


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 prayers of forgiveness, but I like to think of it as a whole-person preparation activity. 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 and on Instagram @imabima. Follow me on twitter @imabima for all the #BlogElul posts, not only mine but others' as well! Read more about #BlogElul here.

#blogElul 1: Prepare

Get ready....
get set...
go.

It's GO time.
Get going.
Get moving.
Get doing.

Don't just sit there.
Move.
Do something.
Be something.
Be someone.

Do it now.
Don't wait.
Don't put it off.
Don't let it sit.
Get it done today.
Now.

Are you ready?

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 prayers of forgiveness, but I like to think of it as a whole-person preparation activity. 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 and on Instagram @imabima. Follow me on twitter @imabima for all the #BlogElul posts, not only mine but others' as well! Read more about #BlogElul here.

#BlogElul and #ElulGram 2015

For the last few years, I've embarked on a project, and invited the social media world to join with me.

#BlogElul and #Elulgram have inspired, informed, and offered a little bit of additional introspection across the internet for the last few years. By popular request, it's back! 

Elul -- that wonderful and terrifying month that precedes the High Holy Days.

A month of introspection and considering, a month of personal reflection and preparation.

Perfect for blogging and other social media... 


What's it all about?I have made a list of Elul-related topics, and I'm inviting you (yes, you! reader, colleague, friend...anyone with a desire to share ideas about the holidays) to join me.


But I'm not stopping only with blogging. Sure, it's called BlogElul but you can "blog" in any way you like. Maybe it's your daily Facebook update or tweet. Maybe it's your Instagram photos or SnapChat story? Now we have Vine and other quick-video services -- perhaps a daily 6-second video? Maybe you don't want to do it daily. Maybe you just want to dip your toe into the experience, or just read (and share?) what others write. It's totally up to you.

Feel free to right-click and save this image to use wherever you #blogelul

I try to keep it simple, as I've done for the last few years. I've provided a topic (somewhat randomly mixed up) for each of the days of the month of Elul...just write a blog post about that topic on the assigned day! Use the hashtag to share your post, even in your title. This might be a great way to kickstart your blog (are you new at it?) and it might be a great way to get yourself ready for the themes and ideas of the holiday! (I plan to use #BlogElul in all my post titles, so that the hashtag is already there.)

And then there's #ElulGram. It's far more open to interpretation! I'm inviting you to post photos related to the same themes as the blogging project. Maybe you're not a writer or you don't have a blog - so take a picture instead! (And don't forget, sharing pictures is not limited to Instagram, but there is also Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Tumblr....etc.) Whatever you do, don't forget to tag it with #Elulgram so we can all share.

The themes are totally up for your own interpretation! I tried to think broadly about the general themes of the High Holy Days, and they are totally open to your own interpretations. There are no rules, but feel free to collaborate, cross-post, share thoughts, etc. I try to keep it as open-ended as possible.

(And yes, I know that the dates include Shabbat. I personally don't blog/tweet/Facebook on Shabbat, but I will post after Shabbat is over. That's my custom but you can do whatever you like.) 

Are you going to play along? Let me know! Leave me a comment here, send me a tweet, or send up a signal fire.... Feel free to grab my pretty badge to announce to the whole world that you're Blogging Elul. If you let me know that you're doing it, we can cross-post, or guest-post, or even just do some virtual hand-holding as the days grow closer to Tishrei. I'll try to link to as many posts and pics as I can - won't it be amazing to all share in the Elul journey together? 

I'm looking forward to sharing this journey with you. Elul begins on August 16th (it's always on time), so I wanted to give you a head start if you're going to pre-write some of your posts. (And yes, I know it's a 2-day Rosh Chodesh, but let's start on Elul 1 to make things simple, okay?)

I hope that our shared preparation for 5776 brings meaning and hope, inspiration and enlightenment for all of us.

A text-based list of the #blogElul #elulGram topics:

Elul 1: Prepare

Elul 2: Act

Elul 3: Search

Elul 4: Understand

Elul 5: Accept

Elul 6: Know

Elul 7: Be

Elul 8: Hear

Elul 9: See

Elul 10: Count

Elul 11: Trust

Elul 12: Forgive

Elul 13: Remember

Elul 14: Learn

Elul 15: Change

Elul 16: Pray

Elul 17: Awaken

Elul 18: Ask

Elul 19: Judge

Elul 20: Dare

Elul 21: Love

Elul 22: End

Elul 23: Begin

Elul 24: Hope

Elul 25: Intend

Elul 26: Create

Elul 27: Bless

Elul 28: Give

Elul 29: Return

#blogExodus: Bless

What is a blessing, anyway?
benediction
invocation
supplication
favor
grace
sanctification....

The dictionary says:

a special favor,
mercy,
or
benefit....

praise, devotion, worship

approval

good wishes

And what is it to bless?
how do we,
mere humans,
invoke God's favor?

What does it mean
to be
blessed?
To be grateful
to find divine favor
to feel that glow of

something

not quite definable
not quite tangible
not quite name-able....

what does it mean
to be
blessed?

like love, it must be felt
to
be
understood.

Want to join in? We're sharing #BlogExodus for the 2 weeks leading up to Passover. All you have to do is use the hashtag and there are suggested prompts on the graphic above (feel free to grab it). Maybe you just want to post on your Facebook or Twitter about these topics...or maybe you want to try #Exodusgram, posting photos related to these themes? I'll be posting my #blogExodus posts here, at this blog, my #Exodusgram pictures on my Instagram and also my tumblr site, imabima.tumblr.com, and who knows what else!? It's going to be a busy fortnight!

#blogExodus: Begin

sometimes it's so hard
just to take
the
first
step

i want to be like
Nachshon....
brave
bold
daring
the first

but i'm held back
restrained
unready
unprepared
enslaved
by
the thoughts and worries and pressures

let's roll
here goes
get moving
yalla!

how did Nachshon do it?
to begin
is so hard.

and yet...here we go...
we begin again
every
single
day.

Want to join in? We're sharing #BlogExodus for the 2 weeks leading up to Passover. All you have to do is use the hashtag and there are suggested prompts on the graphic above (feel free to grab it). Maybe you just want to post on your Facebook or Twitter about these topics...or maybe you want to try #Exodusgram, posting photos related to these themes? I'll be posting my #blogExodus posts here, at this blog, my #Exodusgram pictures on my Instagram and also my tumblr site, imabima.tumblr.com, and who knows what else!? It's going to be a busy fortnight!

#blogExodus and #ExodusGram 5775

Oh my.
Yes, Passover is actually almost here.
It seems that the period between Purim and Pesach gets shorter every year....but I know that isn't true!

Rosh Chodesh Nisan is just about a week away, and that means it's time for #BlogExodus and #Exodusgram! I know you're excited for this...

Feel free to grab this image and share it, use it, post it....add it to your blogs, whatever!

This year's topics are based loosely on the steps of the Seder.  
Can you find the one that isn't like the others?

So what is this really about? #BlogExodus is really what you want to make of it. I've provided topics for the first 14 days of the month of Nisan. What you do with it is up to you -- write a blog post, tweet, Facebook, tumblr, or something that I haven't even thought of yet! Use the hashtag to share your post (I put it into the title of each post). It's a great way to kickstart a blog or rejuvenate your languishing blog or just get yourself ready for the holiday of Passover! I will be posting my #blogExodus posts here on this blog and I will tweet them out at @imabima. There aren't any rules, so maybe you don't like the order of the topics? Maybe you want to write on only a few of them? It doesn't matter. It is what you make of it. 

#Exodusgram is a little more interpretive. While I love Instagram (I'm imabima, of course), I know some people don't. So maybe you want to share Exodus-themed photos via Facebook, Twitter, tumblr, Pinterest or....whatever! My #Exodusgram posts will go up on Instagram and then be shared to my tumblr, imabima.tumblr.com. Whatever you do, don't forget to tag with #Exodusgram so we can all share. (Note for some of my colleagues: this might make a fun teen project, maybe not done over the two weeks but instead over one class period...)

The themes are really up for your own interpretation. I was thinking broadly and openly about what makes Passover special and interesting to me. I hope it will translate into creative and inspirational posts from all of us!

Are you going to join in? Leave me a comment here or send me a tweet or just...jump in!
At some point in the middle, I will probably do a "roundup" post and I will retweet all the #BlogExodus and #Exodusgram posts through Twitter via @imabima. If I miss your posts, let me know so I can go back and be inspired by what YOU have to say!

*Yes, I know that I put the Shabbat dates there. I don't blog/tweet/Facebook on Shabbat but I will post on Fridays before Shabbat and on Saturdays after Shabbat is over. You can, of course, do it any way you like!

1 Nisan - Begin

2 Nisan - Bless

3 Nisan - Cleanse

4 Nisan - Grow

5 Nisan - Hide

6 Nisan - Tell

7 Nisan - Ask

8 Nisan - Rise

9 Nisan - Bitter

10 Nisan - Join

11 Nisan - Celebrate

12 Nisan - Find

13 Nisan - Welcome

14 Nisan - Praise

Hidden

On the holiday of Purim, we talk a lot about that which is hidden.

Esther is hidden, even in her very name. Her identity, her true self, her origins....all hidden.

God is hidden, the Holy Name not mentioned in the story even once.

Mordecai's saving of the king from would-be assassins, hidden in the King's record books.

We hide the filling inside our hamantaschen. What kind did you get?

And we wear masks on this day...masks that hide our true identity. We hide ourselves in the cloak of silliness and mirth, we hide behind the goofiness and the giddiness that changing our clothes into costumes allows.

There's a deep gulf of grief inside of me, a hole shaped like Sammy, who isn't here to see that mom relented and let a couple of Purim Carnival fish into the house.

And yet that deep gulf of grief is hidden, especially on a day like Purim. You can't see it on the outside.

"Be happy -- it's Adar!" we say.

And yet it's days like this one that make me want to sink far into that gulf, hide away, and retreat from the world. Purim is a pretty big deal in synagogue life -- we make silly videos, sing funny songs, tell goofy stories and generally act in a way totally opposite from our usual selves. Sometimes it's a total fakery, and that's part of the way that Purim works.

On Purim, we talk about that which is hidden.
And I realize that we all have hidden gulfs inside of us, deep rivers of grief and sadness, pains and problems. We all have these depths that are hiding.

On Purim, a day that we're doing a lot of "faking it" in so many ways...let's remember the hidden in all of us, and let's take that lesson forward into every day.