Rosh Hashanah

Elul: Period of Preparation

Introduction

The month of Elul is a period of preparation. It is the month leading up to the Yamim Noraim, the Days of Awe or the High Holy Days. Directly preceding Rosh HaShanah on the 1st of Tishrei, the month of Elul is a period of intense preparation for the spiritual work that we undertake during Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur. Jewish tradition affords us a full month for introspection, seeking forgiveness from others, establishing positive goals for the new year, and attempting to draw closer to God. It is a time when we step back and look at ourselves critically and honestly, with the intention of improving.

Today, no one would consider appearing before a judge in a court of law without first preparing his or her case. So it is with the Heavenly Judge on Yom HaDin - The Day of Judgment - another name for Rosh HaShanah. No one should enter into this period without having first prepared their case for repentance.

And so we are given the entire month of Elul to prepare ourselves for judgment, through self reflection, prayer, and the active seeking of forgiveness from those we may have harmed.

The Meaning of Elul?

The name Elul is of Babylonian origin, and first appears in Hebrew Scripture in the Book of Nechemiah 6:15. In the Hebrew calendar, Elul is the sixth month of the year, if you begin counting from Nisan, the month of Passover, which is referred to in Va-Yikra (Leviticus) 23:5 as "the first month.” If you count from Tishrei, the month of Rosh HaShanah - the “Head” of the year - then Elul is the twelfth month, and therefore the last month in the year.

The word Elul - - is said to be an acronym of Ani l'dodi v'dodi li - "I am my Beloved's and my Beloved is mine" from Song of Songs 6:3. The “Beloved” is said to be the Holy One and the "I" is the people of Israel. In the Aramaic language, which was spoken by the Jewish people at the time that the names of the months were set, the word Elul means "search." This is certainly an appropriate name for this period of time when we are encouraged to search our souls.

Elul is also a significant period of Teshuvah (repentence) because this is the same period Moses spent on Mount Sinai pleading for forgiveness for the people of Israel. After the Israelites demonstrated their lack of faith in God by creating and worshipping the Golden Calf, which led to Moses smashing the first set of tablets, Moses ascended again to the top of the mountain on the first of Elul. He remained there for 40 days, beseeching the Holy One to spare the Israelites. God responded positively by instructing Moses to create a new set of tablets of the Ten Commandments. Moses returned to the people on Yom Kippur.

God Is At Hand

Jewish tradition teaches that the Holy One is more accessible during the 40-day period beginning with the start of Elul and culminating in the first ten days of the month of Tishrei, ending with Yom Kippur. The Mystical Sages referred to this period as when “The King is in the Field.” This is based in the notion that, when a king is enthroned in his palace, he is not easily accessible; audience is granted only to those who have merited his attention. But when the king is out in public, anyone may approach him. When the "King is in the Field," out to inspect the produce of his land, he is concerned about the well-being of the inhabitants of his kingdom. Not only is this is the time when the king may be approached by the farmer, but the farmer should approach him, to show respect, and to take full advantage of this rare opportunity to express his needs and thoughts to the king.

So it is with the month of Elul. This is the time when the Eternal King leaves the heavenly throne and descends to inspect this world. This is the period when we are closest to God, and God is most receptive to our prayers. We look to the words of the prophet Isaiah, who said, "Seek God when He is at hand; Call upon Him when He is near" (55:6). And so we make special efforts during this period to renew our commitment to God, when the Holy One is "nearest" to us.

Customs

Beginning on the second day of Rosh Chodesh Elul and continuing until (but not including) the day before Rosh HaShanah, it is customary to blow the Shofar (ram’s horn) every weekday morning. When Moses went up the second time to receive the tablets of the Ten Commandments, the Israelites blew the Shofar in the Camp. This was done to remind themselves of their sin of the Golden Calf, and to assure that they would not again succumb to the sin of idol worship.

To this day we blow the Shofar throughout Elul to remember that, just as our ancestors sinned and were forgiven, we too have sinned and need to use this period to sincerely repent, so that we too can be forgiven. As the Rambam, (Maimonides) taught in Hilchot Teshuvah, the sound of the Shofar during Elul symbolically declares, “Awake all you who are asleep; search your ways and mend them in repentance.”

During Elul, many Jews will recite Chapter 27 of Tehilim (Psalms) as part of the morning and afternoon prayers. Also, many will use this period of preparation to study the Makhzor (High Holy Day prayerbook), Maimonides’s Hilchot Teshuvah, and other books on repentance and ethical conduct. It is also common at this time to have Mezzuzot and Tefillin inspected by a Sofer (scribe) to assure they are still kosher, and to visit the grave sites of loved ones. As always, giving Tzedakah is highly appropriate in this time leading up to the Aseret Yemei Teshuvah (Ten Days of Repentance).

As the month of Elul draws to an end, our efforts towards Teshuvah become more intense. Beginning on the Sunday before Rosh HaShanah until Yom Kippur, special penitential prayers called Selichot are added to the daily cycle of worship. Selichot prayers are usually recited in the early morning, before the normal daily morning service. However, Selichot usually begins on Motzei Shabbat (after nightfall on Saturday) of the week before Rosh HaShanah. The first Selichot service of the season is usually held around midnight, the earliest possible time, to demonstrate our eagerness to seek forgiveness. The late night service is usually preceded by study on themes related to the High Holy Days.

What Can I Do?

Elul is a period of preparation, both spiritual and practical. Some things you can do to make the most of Elul are:

* Allocate time during the month for personal reflection, meditation and prayer. Try and conduct a full Cheshbon HaNefesh - “accounting of the soul.”
* Approach others whom you may have hurt during the past year and seek their forgiveness. Our tradition teaches us that for sins between the individual and God, forgiveness is guaranteed, but for forgiveness between one individual and anther, we must actively seek their forgiveness.
* Hear the sounding of the Shofar every weekday morning.
* Say Psalm 27 every morning.
* Study the Makhzor and other works that will inspire you to repentance.
* Give Tzedakah.
* Visit the burial place of loved ones.
* Attend a Selichot service and say Selichot prayers.
* Have your Tallit cleaned; have your Tefillin and Mezzuzot checked; purchase new clothes to wear for the new year; stock up on honey for a sweet new year...
* Get Ready!