Elul always seems to sneak up on us. One moment we are deep in the heat and dryness of summer, and just a moment later, we realize the High Holidays are approaching.
The month of Elul is the final month of the Jewish year. It’s a month devoted to transition—we reflect on the year that is drawing to a close and start to prepare for the new year that is coming….ready or not!
During the month of Elul, we sound the shofar every morning. The mitzvah of Shofar is to HEAR the shofar, not necessarily to play it. It’s a bit difficult to play…breath control and agile lips are important, but most kids love to learn how to do it. When else do adults encourage kids to go “PFFT”? Shofarot have been sounded historically for many reasons: to gather troops before battle, to serve as an alert or an alarm to the community and, in our case, to call ourselves to attention, to remind ourselves that the opportunity to return to our best, truest selves is upon us.
We have a whole month to prepare, which is about what we need. Like every transition in life, it’s a bit of a balancing act, or like spiritual chemistry: we add a little more of the anticipation of the upcoming year each day, as we allow the year that is coming to a close to slowly drip away. But, it’s an active transition, not a passive one. We are asked to examine ourselves each day: are we on the life path we want to be on? Are we being as true to our best inner selves as we can be (given life circumstances)? What do we regret about the past year? How can we begin to repair the cracks in our relationships with others? With our communities? With ourselves? Each day, our prayers state “Elohai Neshama shenatatah bi, tahorah hee”—My God, the soul that You have placed within me, she is pure”. It’s our reminder that our essential spiritual identity is pure and connected with the Eternal Source of All Space and Time. The work of the month of Elul draws it’s energy from that Source.
May we all be blessed with gentle and compassionate examination of our past year, and with optimistic and positive energy with which to enter the new year that is almost here. Ll’Shana Tovah Umtukah…to a good and sweet New Year.!