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By: Melinda Mindy Ribner
Welcome, Elul. Welcome to the month of turning inward, the month of forgiveness, the month of spiritual accounting, the month of deepening.
- Timing of Elul: A Season of Change
The month of Elul always begins somewhere towards the middle to end of August and continues to the middle or end of September. Even though the heat may still be strong, there is a subtle change in the quality of light upon the arrival of this month. We sense that fall will soon be upon us. In many places in the world, the days will become shorter, the air cooler, and the leaves will once again turn into beautiful colors before they fall to the ground.
We will see before our very eyes the cyclical dance of nature. Some of us will greet these changes with joy and some with regret; nevertheless, the natural changes will occur. Nature will turn inward once again.
As we both witness and experience the inevitable cycles of life, we are drawn inward to the consciousness within us that does not change. Through the spiritual grace of this month, it is easy to get in touch with what is pure and constant within us.
- The Month’s Letter: ‘Yud’ (The Essential Point of Humility)
Kabbalistically, every month has its own Hebrew letter. The Hebrew letter for this month is yud, the smallest letter in the alphabet, simply a point. The yud is the essential point and represents the self-nullification necessary for coming close to G‑d.
The first letter of the Divine Name is a yud. The first letter in the name, Israel, is a yud, as is the first letter in the word “Jew” (Yehudi).
Meditating on the yud this month supports the inner turning to the most inner point within us. Go beyond the stories in your life to contact the innermost place within, the pure soul within. Place the yud on your inner screen, meditate upon it, merge with it, and let it teach you the secrets of the power of becoming small and humble.
- Intimate Closeness With G‑d: ‘Ani Ledodi Vedodi Li’
The first letters of the Hebrew verse, Ani ledodi vidodi li, “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine” (Song of Song 6:3) spell out Elul, signifying that there is an intimate and loving closeness between G‑d (my Beloved) and His people during this last month of the Jewish calendar. (By the way, this is a wonderful mantra to repeat and sing during this month during meditation.)
Elul is the month of spiritual preparation for the High Holidays. The inner work of spiritual accountability and returning to one’s true essence (known as teshuvah, “repentance”) done during this month affects our capacity to stand before G‑d and draw down blessings for the coming year.
- Historically: A Month of Forgiveness
Historically, Elul is the time period during which Moses returned to Mount Sinai to plead for forgiveness for the sin of the Golden Calf. Consequently, Elul is the month for us to work on forgiveness, of ourselves and others. As we forgive, we become open to a greater Divine revelation. Much has been written about the benefits and importance of forgiveness. As difficult as it might be, it’s often the best thing that we can do for ourselves. Though forgiveness is a spiritual practice for the entire year, it is a major theme this month of Elul.