When I originally conceived the idea for Jewels of Elul, I envisioned writing all the reflections myself. Thankfully, I soon realized that not even my mother would be interested in reading my musings for 29 days straight! So, I did the sensible thing: I reached out to 29 people I respect, asking them to share something uplifting for the holy days. And just like that, an idea was born—one that has been thriving for 22 years.
The theme for this year’s Jewels, “If not now, when?” came up in a conversation with my wife, who asked me why I was doing this again. I didn’t have a brilliant answer, so I asked myself, “If not now, when?” And voilà, I decided this would be my last year producing Jewels. I don’t have grand plans for what’s next, but I’m confident something will find me. Who knows, I might just change my mind next year.
Since beginning the project, there have been 638 Jewels. Some I’ve loved, others I’ve vehemently disagreed with, and a few left me utterly indifferent. As you dive into this year’s Jewels, I hope you find ones you love, learn something from those you don’t, and encounter very few that leave you scratching your head. More importantly, I invite you to embrace curiosity. Don’t just seek agreement—explore the unknown. You might just stumble upon a new insight that resonates with you in ways you never expected.
Craig Taubman is a singer/songwriter, Los Angeles County Commissioner and founder of the Pico Union Project. www.picounionproject.org
One Response
Thank you for running this program. I appreciate that we react to the offerings with different levels of agreement. I feel if I can learn 1 new lesson or challenged to look at something differently I will be a better person. Although I am behind this year I’m still planning to read all of the Jewels and ponder how they affect me. A great way to prepare for the holy days ahead. Wishing all a healthy and joyous 5785!!