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As the desert journey draws to a close, God, through Moses, commits the final word of teaching to our collective memory as Israelites that we are to remember that it was God who brought us out of Egypt and that we should live according to God’s plan, the system of commandments given in Torah.

This Divine blueprint is constructed with blessings and curses, carefully choreographed so that we would see, to one side, six tribal elders on Mt. Gerezim, on the other side, six tribal elders on Mt. Ebal, and finally the Levites who stood in the valley between the two, proclaiming every word to all. We are enjoined to be quiet: “Silence! Shema Yisrael, Listen Israel! Today you have become people of the Eternal your God.” By hearing and heeding the words, the choices of right and wrong clearly displayed, we emerge as the people of the Eternal.

Even the layout of those blessings and curses is strategically placed: the curses, each one ending with our chorus of Amen – are spoken in two parts, with the blessings sandwiched in the middle, just as we are nestled physically between the two mountains. Second only to our waiting at the bottom of Mt. Sinai, this experience would have been the most dramatic and profound to date.  And, just like the experience at Sinai…how scared we must have been.

So here we are again with the opportunity to encounter these words as we prepare for the High Holy Days. Literally or figuratively, we begin to anticipate the sharp sound of the ram’s horn. The blast is compelling: draw us close to you, God, and renew our courage to face the consequences of those mistakes we made, for we need your blessings and we fear your curses

During this month of Elul, while we examine ourselves for missing the mark, we appeal to all of God’s mercy. But we don’t just want mercy: we want more. We want to feel God’s love as well, but to do that, we have to take responsibility for our part in the relationship. This is a potent time to ask and reflect: How do we connect- or reconnect – with God? How do we try to get closer to God when we are standing in between the two mountains, in between life’s curses and blessings? How do we find love for God – and perhaps become more lovable, to God and to human beings, as well?

These are the questions of this day and, I would argue, of every day.  Standing just a few weeks shy of the New Year, may this year bring an abundance of blessing and a paucity of curses as we learn to connect with God – and each other – once again.