ELUL:
Month 6 | Elul: Repairing the brokenness through repentance/deeds of kindness.
- Prayer Request
- Praise Report
Focus: Repentance, Returning, Spiritual Intimacy
Letter: Yud (י)
Tribe: Gad
Sense: Mercy
Each day of the month of Elul (except for Shabbat and the last day of Elul), the Jewish people sound the shofar (ram’s horn) as a call to repentance. The Jewish people teach that the “King is in the Field” during Elul—God is readily accessible, willing to hear our requests and listen to our fervent prayers for the coming new year.
Elul is another acronym for the Hebrew phrase, “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.” Jewish tradition teaches that we have special access to God’s love and mercy during this month. Rabbi Isaac Luria stated that if one sufficiently repents during Elul, then Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur become days of celebration for the received repentance instead of days of solemn pleading. This idea suggests that rather than repenting at the last moment, we should seek God and repent while the king is still in the field. To this end, some perform an “absolute fast” during the first two days of Elul. Others will fast every day, from sunrise to sunset from the start of Elul until Yom Kippur.
And it’s fitting that this theme of belovedness undergirds Elul. This month precedes a month of intense reflection and repentance. Nobody enjoys examining themselves and facing the sin that has been active within them. But Elul reminds us that we don’t repent in order to be loved by God but because we already are. Belovedness is the foundation of godly contrition. Fasting is common amongst the Jewish people during this month, with some fasting every day – sunrise to sunset from the start of Elul until Yom Kippur.
The Hebrew letter for this month; yod, represents the concentrated power of God.
Major Jewish and Biblical Events in History in Elul:
01 Elul: Moses ascended Mount Sinai, with stone tablets for God to re-inscribe
10 Elul: Noah opened the Ark’s window and dispatched a raven
17 Elul: Noah sent a dove to see if the waters of the Great Flood had abated
23 Elul: Noah sent a dove for the 2nd time – returns with an olive branch
25 Elul:
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- 1st day of creation: God created existence, time, matter, darkness, light
- Rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem completed by Nehemiah
27 Elul: Frankfurt (Germany) Jews Expelled (1614)
DON'T MISS THE CALENDAR
Tishrei: The Month of Renewal in the Hebrew Calendar
God renews creation. Tishrei’s festivals all focus on the person praying, waiting, and relying upon the Lord. Consequently, this month’s other name (Ethanim meaning “strong”) makes perfect sense, as “they who wait for Adonai will renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:31).
Elul: The Month of Repentance, Returning, and Spiritual Intimacy in the Hebrew Calendar
Each day of the month of Elul (except for Shabbat and the last day of Elul), the Jewish people sound the shofar (ram’s horn) as a call to repentance. The Jewish people teach that the “King is in the Field” during Elul—God is readily accessible, willing to hear our requests and listen to our fervent prayers for the coming new year.
Kislev: The Month of Trust and Dedication in the Hebrew Calendar
Kislev is often playfully re-written as Kis-Lev (Purse of the Heart). Kislev is a time to examine what is in our hearts. It’s also time to fill them with reminders of the goodness of God. These concepts are most evident during the holiday that falls during this month: Chanukah, the Festival of Lights.