Earth Etude for Rosh Hashanah: 5783

by Rabbi Katy Allen

The Eternal came down in a cloud. וַיֵּרֶד ה’ בֶּֽעָנָן (Ex. 34:5)

Clouds,

you change,

 from minute to minute,

from day to day,

from season to season,

from year to year,

growing,

shrinking,

even sometimes seeming to disappear, 

doing whatever is necessary, 

whatever is needed, 

to fit the conditions,

never losing your key identity, 

as a cloud.

In this new year, may we find what is needed

to be like a cloud

yet to not be a cloud,

but always to be ourself,

our very best self.

And. the Eternal went before them as a column of cloud by day. וַה’ הֹלֵךְ לִפְנֵיהֶם יוֹמָם בְּעַמּוּד עָנָן (Ex. 13:21)

Shana tov from all of us at Earth Etudes for Elul!  

Rabbi Katy Allen is the founder and rabbi of Ma’yan Tikvah – A Wellspring of Hope, which holds services outdoors all year long and has a growing children’s outdoor learning program, Y’ladim BaTeva. She is the founder of the Jewish Climate Action Network-MA, a board certified chaplain, and a former hospital and hospice chaplain. She received her ordination from the Academy for Jewish Religion in  Yonkers, NY, in 2005, and lives in Wayland, MA, with her spouse, Gabi Mezger, who leads the.singing at Ma’yan Tikvah.

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