While Barack Obama and John McCain pour their energy into the battleground states of America, both poured a piece of themselves into a fascinating project by Jewish musican and performer Craig Taubman - Jewels of Elul IV.   Taubman, creator Temple Sinai's wildly successful musical Shabbat, "Friday Night Live", has produced the Jewels of Elul each High Holy Day season for four years in a row.

The idea is simple, and the impact profound.  Taubman and his team recruit 29 artists, politicians and other thinkers to contribute their thoughts  for each of the 29 days of Elul.  Each short essay provides inspiration and personal reflection for this important time of year.

The compilation is available in beautifully designed booklets, and are also published on their web site, www.jewelsofelul.com, and available by email - one per day - if you so desire.  Contirbutors this year include Senators Obama and McCain, as well as Elka Graham (Olympic Silver medalist swimmer), Philanthropist Lynn Schusterman, Jeffrey Katzenberg (CEO of DreamWorks Animation SKG), Elie Wiesel, Rabbi David Wolpe and others.  Previous years have included Deepak Chopra, the Dalai Lama, Kirk Douglas, Matisyahu, Debbie Friedman, Ruth Messinger (president of the American Jewish World Service), and Professor Arnold Eisen (Chancellor of the Jewish Theological Seminary), and many others.

In June, Taubman contacted Barack Obama who agreed to contribute to this year’s collection, which focuses on the theme of “dreamers and their dreams.” Once Obama was on board, several on his staff suggested that he consider including McCain as well.

Free copies of the booklet — 100,000, funded by the Stefan Adelipour for Life Foundation —  were widely popular, and have already been distributed to synagogues and Jewish organizations across America.  Visit www.jewelsofelul.com to read the daily entries of each short essay, and sign up to receive one email per day for the rest of Elul.  Or to sign up in the coming months to get your hands on the Jewels of Elul V booklet for next year!

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