The Month of Elul – Preparing for the High Holy Days – 5787

Reflections on Ritual

The Month of Elul – Preparing for the High Holy Days – 5787

– Stephen Freed

The Hebrew month of Elul precedes Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. It generally coincides with August in the secular calendar, but Elul has special significance in Jewish tradition. It is a time when we prepare ourselves for self-reflection and teshuvah, returning to our better selves, in the coming High Holy Days. Traditionally, the shofar is blown at every morning service, some say to awaken our souls, perhaps to create a sense of expectation in the silence before each blast, or possibly to express what we cannot put into words. It has been said that through the shofar we send cries of longing across the universe.

During Elul we have a tradition of wishing each other a shana tovah, a good year, in anticipation of the year that will begin on Rosh Hashana, literally the “head of the year.” There is a tradition of visiting the graves of parents and others who have made our very existence possible. We remember the past, events and feelings, as we transition to a new year. At the end of Elul – the week before Rosh Hashana, we say special prayers to ask for forgiveness. Many congregations have midnight services. At TBH-BA we will be gathering after sunset on September 5 for our Slichot service.

As we begin our work toward teshuvah, I’d like to share two prayers that I find particularly meaningful, and may perhaps resonate with you as well. Both are found in Mishkan Halev, Prayers for S’lichot and the Month of Elul, published by CCAR, the rabbinic organization of the Reform movement.

The first is an excerpt from “A Time for Turning” by Rabbi Jack Riemer.

“ . . . for leaves, birds and animals turning comes instinctively. But for us turning does not come so easily. It takes an act of will to make a turn. It means breaking with old habits. It means admitting that we have been wrong; and this is never easy. It means losing face; it means starting all over again; and this is always painful. It means saying: I am sorry. It means recognizing that we have the ability to change. These things are terribly hard to do. But unless we turn, we will be trapped forever in yesterday’s ways. God, help us to turn – from callousness to sensitivity, from hostility to love, from pettiness to purpose, from envy to contentment, from carelessness to discipline, from fear to faith. Turn us around and bring us back toward You. Revive our lives, as at the beginning. And turn us toward each other – for in isolation there is no life.”

The second prayer is called “V’ahavata for Elul,” a poetic interpretation of “v’ahavata,” Deuteronomy 6: 5-9, which we recite with the Shema.
You shall love the ones who are close
with all your heart,
with all your spirit,
with all your strength.

Remember these words, inscribe them on your heart:
love them when they struggle,
when they sadden and disappoint you;
love them when they fail.

See the good within them, even when they can’t.
Look at them, and listen, even when it is hard.
Be grateful for their guidance (even their reproof)
when they save you from yourself.

Love them when they give you joy,
and love them when they don’t.
When you lie down, let go of anger.
When you rise up at dawn, begin again.

Praise them for their deeds at home;
Speak to them in public with respect.

Bind yourself to the ones you love
with promises kept and vows fulfilled.

Open to them the gates of your heart, the doorway of your soul –
and let them know you.
So shall the ones you cherish feel your love, your presence, and your care.

Looking forward to seeing you at slichot and High Holy Day services. May the new year bring you joy, meaning, good health and much happiness. Shana tova and zeit gezunt!

Stephen Freed
On behalf of the TBH-BA ritual committee