OCTOBER 2008 HOME
“Jewels of Elul,” a compilation of inspirational messages from a unique group of individuals in honor of the High Holidays, is the brainchild of Jewish singer and songwriter Craig Taubman, who has produced the series four years in a row. The goal of the project is for a group of individuals of different ages, genders, races, and religions, to explore a theme throughout the month of Elul. Elul, the last month of the Jewish calendar, is a time of repentance and personal reflection in preparation for the High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. This mood of repentance builds through the month of Elul to the period of selichot (special prayers said in the days leading up to the High Holidays), to Rosh Hashanah, and finally to Yom Kippur. This year, says Taubman, the 2008 Jewels of Elul theme was “Dreamers and their Dreams.” Twenty-nine of the world’s most influential people, including Senators Barack Obama and John McCain, DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg, Olympic medalist Elka Graham, as well as rabbis, scholars, authors, artists, and entertainers, responded to Taubman’s request with their dreams. “I went to the biggest dreamers I could find. Two presidential candidates – that’s a pretty big dream! How many people actually become the candidates for their party?” says Taubman. “I went to these people who dream big dreams and I said, ‘What’s your dream? Write about it.’ “There’s a great educator – his name was John Holt. He said, ‘Good educators make you say ‘I wish I could do that,’ but great educators make you say, ‘I could do that!’” explains Taubman. “More than anything else, I want people to read these and not only be wowed by the accomplishments of others but instead be inspired to follow their own dreams. “And what better time to do that than the High Holidays?” Taubman adds. “People make New Years vows and resolutions – this is it! Make a vow to change your life. Change someone else’s life. Follow your dreams!” To read the 2008 Jewels of Elul – 29 Dreamers and their Dreams, please visit www.jewelsofelul.com.
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