Elul Thoughts

Makhloket l'shem Shamayim is a disagreement for the sake of Heaven. It reminds us that not all arguments are harmful. The classic debates between Rabbis Hillel and Shammai weren’t about ego or winning. They were about seeking truth with humility and respect. That kind of disagreement is sacred.

As we enter the Jewish month of Elul, a time of reflection, that lesson resonates differently. This past year has been heavy. The rise in antisemitism has shaken us. And Israel, so central to our hearts and our people’s story, has faced unimaginable pain, pressure, and loss. We’ve seen fractures both inside and outside our community, and it has been challenging for us all.

Elul invites us to take stock, not just of our actions, but of our conversations. Have our arguments come from a place of love? From a desire to protect and uplift? Or have we let fear and frustration drive us?

Makhloket l'shem Shamayim calls on us to disagree with care, to stay rooted in connection even when we don’t see eye to eye. That is what Elul is for: returning to who we are and what we stand for with compassion, courage, and clarity.