ELUL:
Month 6 | Elul: Repairing the brokenness through repentance/deeds of kindness.
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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)
What are the Torah Portion Readings During the month of Elul?
Elul begins the month with the first reading, Parashat Re’eh, then Parashat Shoftim, and Parashat Ki Teitzei. Overall, the Torah readings during the month of Elul encourage individuals to reflect on their choices, examine their unfinished business, and exercise restraint in order to gain insight, make necessary changes, and pave the way for a more meaningful and purpose-filled life.
What is the significance of Elul?
Elul is the last month on the Hebrew Jewish Calendar. Elul provides an opportunity for individuals to engage in personal stock-taking or Cheshbon hanefesh. This process allows for introspection, reflection on one’s actions and behaviors, and evaluation their spiritual state. It is a period of self-assessment in preparation for the upcoming High Holidays.
Divine judgment during Rosh Hashanah?
According to Jewish tradition, on Rosh Hashanah, all of humanity is called to account, and a divine judgment is issued. This belief underscores the significance of Elul as a month of preparation, where individuals spiritually prepare themselves for this divine judgment.
How do the customs and traditions associated with Elul help in the preparation process?
The customs connected to Elul aim to cultivate the proper mindset for spiritual preparation: self-assessment, reflection, and seeking forgiveness, Cheshbon hanefesh, meaning ‘an accounting of the soul’ in Hebrew. All of which contribute to being ready for the High Holidays.
DON'T MISS THE CALENDAR
Adar: The Month of Joy in the Hebrew Calendar
There are many joyous dates on the Jewish calendar, but besides Purim, none affect an entire month, causing it to be auspicious and joyous. Purim is the celebration of Israel’s rescue from the Persian leader Haman’s genocidal plot (as recorded in the Book of Esther). The Rabbis teach that Purim is like Yom Kippur (the “Day of Atonement”). While on Yom Kippur we achieve holiness through the mortification of the flesh and long hours of prayer, we realize that same level of holiness on Purim through feasting, celebration, and joy.
Shevat: The Month of Blessings and Fruitfulness in the Hebrew Calendar
According to Tradition, the first of Shevat is when Moses began giving his final address to Israel. “Across the Jordan in the land of Moab, Moses began to explain this Torah saying, ‘Adonai our God spoke to us at Horeb saying: ‘You have stayed long enough at this mountain’” (Deuteronomy 1:5-6). For the entire month of Shevat, he would sit in the meeting tent and elucidate the Torah.
Tevet: The Month of Divine Grace in the Hebrew Calendar
2 Kings 25 tells us Nebuchadnezzar began Babylon’s siege of Jerusalem on the 10th day of Tevet (a fast day known as Asarah B’Tevet). Ironically, the Jewish people adopted the name “Tevet” during the Babylonian exile. It is believed to connote “sinking” or “immersing.”