Rabbi Lana writes:

We are in the midst of the second week of the month of Elul. Some of us may have already heard the sound of the Shofar; for others, that magical sound of awakening is still unheard or maybe even unknown.

A Shofar is a ram’s horn that is blown like a trumpet during Rosh Hashanah services, during the preceding month of Elul, and at the end of Yom Kippur. Shofar in Hebrew is Leshaper meaning to improve or to make something better. We should always strive to improve, or in other words, to be the best version of ourselves. How might we achieve that?

In my family, we have a special practice that we follow every night. When our kids get ready to go to sleep, my husband Daniel and I ask each of them five questions:

1. What was the best/favorite part of your day?
2. Was there anything unpleasant/disappointing that happened to you today?
3. What did you do today to help someone else?
4. What was one thing you learned today?
5. What is one thing you are grateful for?

There can be more than one answer for each question, but they cannot skip any of them. We insist on receiving at least one answer for each question, because we believe that each of them is important. 

In my almost nine years as a parent, these precious bedtime moments became my favorite part of parenthood. Not only do I get to know my kids better, thanks to this ritual, which became our most sacred time of day, but I believe it also helps them and us to strive to become the best versions of ourselves. 

During my morning spiritual practice, I recite two special blessings:

The first one, Elohai neshama she’natata bee tehorah hee, means: My God, the soul that you have planted within me is pure. When I recite these words, I see the good and the Godly that is within me, and if and when I am disappointed in myself, I seek ways to live up to my best essence.

The second blessing, Modah ani lefanecha, melech chai vekayam, shehehezarta bee nishmati, raba emunatecha, means I offer thanks to You, Sovereign of the universe, who returns to me my soul each morning faithfully. With this prayer, each morning begins with words of gratitude. 

In this month of Elul, I invite us to awaken our hearts and souls, and remember to be thankful for what we have. When we do that, it becomes easier to sustain the big and the small moments of each day. Gratitude will also help us walk into the New Year with a sense of purpose and thankfulness. 

Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, one of the greatest teachers of the twentieth century, taught us that Our goal should be to live life in radical amazement, get up in the morning and look at the world in a way that takes nothing for granted. Everything is phenomenal; everything is incredible; never treat life casually. To be spiritual is to be amazed.  

So be amazed: when you hear the sound of the Shofar, when you reflect on your day at bedtime, or when offering morning blessings, ask yourself: What am I grateful for? What amazes me on this day? And how can I be the best version of myself?