Elul Project 5782: Day 13
compiled by Isaac Sonett-Assor
Today's Text:
A Friend
By Umberto Saba
To find,
when life is in decline, the first ray of light
that shone upon it: a friend. This is the goodness
that I have been given.

Like me and unlike me, rebellious
and docile. I keep him
near me to breathe like
a child born hopeless—
a tender mother.

Soon he will go off on his way
he will go, with doubt and difficulty. He will leave me
To the anguish of my downhill years
With the chaste sweetness of a kiss.

But, if time shall bring its terrors,
Then towards peaceful joy I'll turn my mind
for him today.

“When The Thought of You”

When the thought of you follows me
in the woods, where from time to time
I shelter from my horrors for the day, sweetness
strikes me still as a statue.

Then I arise, resuming my life.

Everything is distant from me, youth,
glory; others with their other care turn me strange.
But that thought of you, that you are alive,
makes me all right. Oh immense
and almost inhuman tenderness!
Today's Question
Could you share a story of a friend who has shone a ray of light upon your life?

We encourage you to share your thoughts in response to our daily question by emailing elul@templemicah.org as we will incorporate many of them in our Yom Kippur afternoon service with Liz Lerman.
Thank you for your participation!
אַתָּה נוֹתֵן יָד
You Extend a Hand
Throughout the month of Elul, we invite you to take part in Temple Micah’s daily reflection as we explore the symbol of the outstretched hand. What are the forces that guide, sustain, and pull us? When do we find courage from within, and when do we lean on others?
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