Rabbi Howard Morrison

The month of Elul is not only the last month of the year 5783. It is also a month of spiritual preparation in advance of 5784. Already from the outset of Elul, the Shofar is sounded at the end of daily morning services as a preparatory wake up call. Since the sounding of the Shofar is considered optional or customary during Elul, it is paused on the last day of Elul to distinguish it from the commandment of hearing the Shofar on Rosh Hashanah.

Also, at the outset of Elul, we began to recite Psalm 27 at evening and morning services. Every line resonates with High Holy Day themes. The Talmud interprets the opening line as follows: "The Lord is my light - Rosh Hashanah. The Lord is my salvation - Yom Kippur." Elsewhere, the Psalm makes reference to the Sukkah as a place where God protects us. The last line offers hope, faith, and strength, as we transition from one year to the next. The Psalm is recited through the very end of the Sukkot season.

It is customary throughout Elul to visit the graves of loved ones. A meaningful spiritual preparation for the new year is to take note of those who have guided us through our lives and who continue to inspire us even after their passing from this world.

Sephardim began to recite daily prayers of Selichot, forgiveness, from the outset of Elul. Thus, they recite penitential prayers for forty days, from Rosh Chodesh Elul through Yom Kippur. Moses stood atop Mount Sinai forty days to receive Torah and did so again after the episode of the golden calf. With Moses' second experience, forty days are associated with God's forgiveness of the Jewish people.

Ashkenazim begin to recite daily prayers of Selichot following the Shabbat preceding Rosh Hashanah. These prayers of penitence must begin no less than four days prior to Rosh Hashanah. Ashkenazim begin on a Saturday night following Shabbat for a number of reasons. The joy of the Shabbat just observed balances the serious mood of the Selichot prayers. In addition,  The Torah portion of Nitzavim-Vayelech contains variations of the word Teshuva-Repentance many times. The Talmud teaches us that when we are in need of divine forgiveness, we ought to recite the thirteen attributes of God's forgiving the People of Israel following the sin of the golden calf.

I invite you to join us at Beth Emeth this Saturday night. At 9PM, we will reflect on a number of prayers and readings for the new year. At 10PM, our new director of spiritual engagement, Cantor Ron Donenfeld, will lead us in a traditional Selichot service.

Shabbat Shalom and Shana Tova U'Metuka - A good and sweet new year,
Rabbi Howard Morrison