Rabbi’s message for 8/26/25 - Elul camping trip

This past weekend, many of us had the joy of gathering for our intergenerational Elul camping trip. Beneath the pines, with the lake shimmering nearby and the crackle of the campfire in our ears, we stepped into the spirit of Elul — the month of preparation, reflection, and return. What struck me most was how the weekend invited each of us to bring our whole selves into this sacred season, just as the characters of the “Hundred Acre Woods” remind us that there are many ways to approach the journey of a new year.

Eeyore shows us that sadness and stillness are not failures but gateways—moments when quiet honesty grounds us in truth. Piglet, with his anxieties, reminds us that it’s natural to feel uncertainty as we approach a season of change; his smallness gives us courage to be vulnerable and ask for help. Tigger, bouncing with enthusiasm, embodies the energy and excitement that renewal can bring—sometimes we need a little leap to propel us forward. And Pooh, with his gentle equanimity and love of simple joys, teaches us that a steady, content heart is a precious gift in turbulent times. (And if you are feeling like you missed out on the rabbis’ re-enactment of each of these, make space on your calendar next year for this meaningful and joy-filled Shabbat!)

Together, these beloved companions offer us a map for navigating the “Hundred Acre Woods” of our own lives as we step into 5786. Each emotion, whether heavy, anxious, exuberant, or calm, can be a pathway toward teshuvah – turning to our true selves – reflection, and deeper connection with ourselves, each other, and the Divine.

As we turn toward the gates of the New Year, I invite you to bring all of yourself into this season. Mark your calendars and plan to join us for the High Holy Day celebrations both at our synagogue and all around our beloved gem of Creation, Lake Tahoe. Together, we will walk into this new chapter, carrying our sadness, our fears, our joys, and our peace — knowing that, like our friends in the woods, we are never truly alone on the journey.

With blessings of courage, joy, and gentle beginnings,

Rabbi Lauren