The Jewish New Year of Rosh Hashanah will fall this year in mid-September. One month prior, there is a mandate to prepare ourselves and our hearts for the occasion. The name of this Hebrew month is Elul, which is considered the month when the examination of our deeds begins.
Every morning at worship services during Elul, the shofar – the ram’s horn – is sounded. Its shrill sounds are intended to awaken us to acknowledge our mistakes and begin a plan of action to repent.
There are also special penitential prayers to be recited. Some people have the custom of expressing their best wishes to people for a good year, both in person, and when writing letters – and these days, emails, tweets, Facebook posts, and Instagram. This simple practice serves as a reminder that a new year is approaching.
It is also traditional to visit the graves of loved ones during the month of Elul. Doing this reminds us of our connection with those loved ones who went before us, and the legacy we have received from them.
On a more demanding level, the month of Elul is the time to begin the work of repentance and returning to the true path of our lives, to ourselves, and to others. It is a time to recognize our mistakes and the hurt we have inflicted upon others and to make amends.
The month of Elul signals a new beginning. But it is important to acknowledge that Elul of itself does not bring renewal. It is up to us, as it was up to our ancestors before us, to use the month for this purpose. Unless we renew our lives during Elul, the gift of Elul will be worthless.
With Rosh Hashanah falling in mid-September, we know that autumn is not too far behind. A line from a Simon and Garfunkel song comes to mind: “August – die she must; the autumn wind blows chilly and cold.”
It is no accident that Rosh Hashanah falls at the beginning of the seventh month, the turning point of the year, when the abundance of the summer begins to fade. A chorus from another Simon and Garfunkel song captures the sense of loss: “And the leaves that are green turn to brown. And they wither with the wind, and they crumble in your hand.”
As summer will soon turn to fall, we won’t be able to do anything about the leaves turning from green to brown and withering with the wind, but we can turn ourselves towards the task of renewal. May each of us find the courage to take our first steps.
Wishing everyone a good summer and may we find a New Year that will bring us renewal of body, renewal of spirit, and a return to our true selves.
Rabbi Ron Isaacs is the rabbi at Beth Judah Temple in Wildwood. He can be reached through his website, www.rabbiron.com.
