Fridays are my favourite day of the week. I wake up with a song in my head and heart, a spring in my step and spend the day looking forward to Shabbat.
Our Jewish calendar, after all, teaches us the importance of both mental and physical preparation. Whether it’s baking challah on Friday afternoon, cleaning the house, getting the candles ready to light or simply setting the table, there are different ways we ready ourselves for the weekend.
It’s not just Shabbat, though. There’s the big pre-Pesach clean as we rid both our hearts and homes of hametz. We count the Omer in the runup to Shavuot. And then, there’s the month of Elul. It’s the onramp to the High Holy Days, and while it might not be widely practised, there are a few special customs worth mentioning.
Firstly, we add Psalm 27 to our daily liturgy. We chant selichot asking G-d for forgiveness before we even arrive at Yom Kippur. And just as importantly, we engage in personal and intentional self-reflection and improvement (cheshbon hanefesh).
Some may say that Elul gets short shrift in our calendar. After all, it starts now at a time when we begin the hustle and bustle of preparation for High Holy Days that can leave us somewhat breathless.
But this is exactly why we need Elul. It’s the opportunity to personally prepare for the Days of Awe. Whether you pray, journal, reconnect or simply take time to reflect, Elul is the chance to go inwards and consider in what ways you’ve acted in accordance with your highest values this year.
How are you falling short?
What support do you need to make changes?
Which of your relationships (self, divine and human) need attention?
Elul is like the magical pre-Shabbat prep. It’s heavy lifting, yes. It can be a little cumbersome, like the pre-Pesach deep clean. But you need to put in real effort. Do so, and things get lighter, cleaner, and clearer, and so, prepare us to walk into Rosh Hashanah proud of the work we’ve done, ready to bask in the holiday.
Just like the past few years, this one has been a rollercoaster. Whether it’s left you gasping for air or with too much time, Elul is here and we can navigate it together. The shofar is about to sound and this year, perhaps more than others, we need to thoroughly hear its call.
Let’s go inwards, but let’s forge ahead together and make this year’s Days of Awe as meaningful as possible.
During this sacred month, sound the great shofar of your internal freedom. Go inwards, realign and give those exiled parts of yourself the light and love you so deserve so you may emerge clear-headed and spiritually ready for the communal celebrations of the High Holy Days.
As printed in the September 2022 Beit Luria newsletter.
Nachas & Drash 