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August 26, 2022 (29 Av 5782) Let's Get Ready! Dear Holy Friends, I hope this correspondence finds you doing well and in good health. We look forward to you joining us this Shabbat morning at 10:30am for our in-person services which will take place in the sanctuary and be available on our regular zoom prayer link. This Shabbat will include the Psalms of Hallel, as we usher in the month of Elul. Although the month of Elul — the sixth month of the Jewish year, which immediately precedes Rosh Hashanah — has no special importance in the Bible or in early rabbinic writings, various customs arose during the first millennium that designated Elul as the time to prepare for the High Holy Days. As these days are filled with so much meaning and potency, they require a special measure of readiness. We are called upon to enter them thoughtfully and to consider the meaning of life, engage in repentance, and reconnect with our tradition. As the Maharal of Prague once said, “All the month of Elul, before eating and sleeping, a person should look into his soul and search his deeds, that he may make confession.” As Elul is the Hebrew month that precedes the High Holidays (Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur), some say that the Hebrew letters that comprise the word Elul – Aleph, Lamed, Vav, Lamed – are an acronym for “Ani l’dodi v’dodi li,” a verse from Song of Songs that means “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.” Most often interpreted as love poetry between two people, the phrase also reflects the love between God and the Jewish people, especially at this season, as we assess our actions and behaviors during the past year and hope for blessings in the coming year. Several customs during the month of Elul are designed to remind us of the liturgical season and help us to prepare ourselves and our souls for the upcoming High Holidays. Traditionally, the shofar is blown each morning (except on Shabbat) from the first day of Elul until the day before Rosh HaShanah. Its sound is intended to awaken the soul and kick start the spiritual accounting that happens throughout the month. In some congregations, the shofar is sounded at the opening of each Kabbalat Shabbat service during Elul. Selichot (special penitential prayers) are recited during the month of Elul. A special Selichot service is conducted late in the evening – often by candlelight – on the Saturday night the week before Rosh HaShanah. Elul is also a time of year during which Jews traditionally visit the graves of loved ones. This custom not only reminds us of the individuals on whose shoulders we now stand and helps us honor their memories, but also prompts us to think about our own lives and the legacies we will leave to others – kind words spoken, comfort offered, love given and received – which take on added meaning as we enter the High Holiday season. It is customary to read Psalm 27 each day from the beginning of Elul through Hoshana Rabbah, which is the last day of Sukkot. It also is a month during which we are encouraged to study and take time for personal reflection around our actions of the past year and to seek forgiveness from those we have wronged or with whom we otherwise have “missed the mark” in our interactions and behaviors. As we prepare to join together as a community during the Days of Awe, I pray that you will find meaning and fulfillment in this time leading up to the High Holidays. Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Eric Wasser, EdD, Hon.DM
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