The Month Of Elul

Elul, a month to reflect.
Elul is the month preceding the High Holidays.
There are no holidays during this month.

   HaYom HaRot Olam - Birthday of the World:
According to the Rabbis, the world was created in Elul. Like a birthday, the month Elul is a time for celebration and reflection.

   Yamim Nora'im- The High Holidays:
Immediately following Elul, Rosh HaShana occurs, then ten days later we observe Yom Kippur. This is a time of introspection and celebration. Of beginnings and endings. Repentance (tshuva) and forgiveness (slicha). We gather together with our families, but the task of tshuva and change is a solitary one.

   40 Days from the first day of Elul to Yom Kippur:
Moses went to the top of Mt. Sinai twice. When he returned after the first ascent, the people had built a molten calf and were about to engage in celebration. As he witnessed the scene, he shattered the tables of stone engraved with the Decalogue. Moses destroyed the calf, punished the people and pleaded with G-d to forgive the people, giving
them one more chance.

Moses ascended Sinai a second time and returned 40 days later, having convinced God to forgive Israel and giving them another chance. According to the Rabbis, Moses ascended the second time on the first day of the month of Elul, and returned 40 days later on the 10th day of the month of Tishri, the day of Yom Kippur. That day, that original day of atonement, when G-d forgave Israel and did not destroy us as we deserved, is the model for how we can earn forgiveness.

   Heshbon HaNefesh:
A spiritual accounting, filling out a form 1040, which accounts for all our actions.

Between now and the High Holidays, take some time each day to think about your actions over the past year.

If I had but a week to live, what would I do?
For what things am I truly sorry?
What would I like to change in the coming year?
From whom do I need to ask for forgiveness?
To whom do I need to give forgiveness?
What obstacles are keeping me from changing?

   Tekiyat HaShofar - Blowing the shofar:
During the first 3 weeks of Elul after weekday morning services, we blow the shofar.

   Slichot:
As the month of Elul draws to an end, a special service begins the Saturday night before Rosh HaShanah called Slichot (or the Saturday of the week before if Rosh HaShanah is less than two days), which means forgiveness. Some of the prayers and melodies from the High Holyday services are included. These prayers are meant to spiritually prepare oneself for the task of repentance. At Beth Israel, Slichot service will be Saturday, September 20th at 10:00pm.

   Asking others for forgiveness:
Before we can ask God to forgive our sins, we must ask those whom we have wrong. The Mishna teaches that G-d cannot forgive sins between people. So it is necessary to ask all whom we have wronged for their forgiveness. This is the origin of New Years cards. The original intent was to ask for forgiveness.