By Micaela Hellman-Tincher
This past week marked the first week of the Hebrew month of Elul. During Elul, my mom calls me every day to blow the shofar over the phone, to get us ready for the High Holy Days. I have always been taught that the shofar was meant to be a kind of alarm that roused us from our normal lives and instructed us to prepare for the new year and the days of awe. 

For me, Elul has also always marked the end of summer and the beginning of school, and shofar phone calls usually coincided with figuring out my workload for the upcoming year.  This year Elul's shofar blasts mean something different as I start my work at the RAC.  Elul's shofar calls come at a time when I am being shaken awake to realize the urgent issues facing the world around me.

In our orientation as new RAC legislative assistants, we've learned that there are only a few weeks left before Congress adjourns for the elections recess, and may even be the last time the 110th Congress meets at all. Just as there is less than one month till the days of awe begin, there is also only a month left in the legislative calendar for the 110th Congress. With such a short time frame, we know that not all our legislative priorities will make it onto the Congressional agenda. Elul marks a month in which we must decide which bills to focus our efforts on this year, and which will likely be brought up in the next Congress.

In my opinion, one of the most urgent bills is an economic stimulus package that addresses the pressing needs caused by rising fuel and food prices. Knowing that many more people will be unable to have nutritious meals in order to pay heating bills this winter makes it obvious to me that the stimulus package is an Elul priority that cannot wait until next Congress.  I'm looking forward to going full force on this effort through the end of Elul, and you can help by encouraging Congress to support this bill.

The gates of heaven will open at the end of Elul, but the halls of Congress will be closed, likely until the secular new year, so let's get some good bills through to last us until then.

(First posted on the RACBlog)

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