Yes, it’s true, I am back from sabbatical. And, what perfect timing, not only is this week the official start of the school year, but it also represents the beginning of the High Holy Day season. This past Sunday, we not only welcomed in the month of September, but the Hebrew month of Elul as well. Elul, the last month of the Jewish calendar, is a time of contemplation and reflection before Rosh Hashanah. This is when things get serious, as we try to make amends for any wrongdoings in the past year in order to begin the New Year with a clean slate. In many communities, the shofar is blasted throughout the month and prayers of tachanunor supplication are added into the prayer service.
Elul is also just fun to say. It rolls off the tongue as if we are preparing our mouths for the many prayers we will have to offer during the High Holy Days. It requires us to be a little silly. While the actual meaning of the month likely comes from the Akkadian Elulu, meaning to harvest, the rabbis have suggested a few other possible understandings. The first comes from the Song of Solomon and one if it’s most famous lines – “Ani L’Dodi V’Dodi Li, I am my beloved and my beloved is mine.” If you take the first letters of each of the Hebrew words in the verse – Alef-Lamed-Vav-Yud- it spells out Elul. Commonly used as a vow during a wedding ceremony, this verse reminds us all to be more loving to ourselves and others during this arduous time. The second interpretation, is from the Aramaic root Elul meaning to search. This is the time of year we search deep inside our souls to return to our true selves.
Over the course of the month of Elul, may we all search harder, love stronger, and, always, above all, not take things too seriously
B’Shalom,
Rabbi Alex
Last Updated on 11/03/2019 by Marc Slonim