Elul is the month in which we prepare for the High Holidays. This month helps us to turn inward and reflect on the past year, as we prepare to welcome in our new year. The High Holidays have the power to transform our lives. If we see these holidays as only an obligation to be fulfilled, we miss the inherent opportunity.
Yamim Noraim - The Days of Awe
What are we in awe of? The splendor and beauty of the leaves changing? Nora could also be translated as reverence - when Religion is observed more than any other time of year.
- Starts with Elul/Selichot - goes until the conclusion of the Harvest festival of Sukkot (Simchat Torah)
- Sephardic Communities: Recite Selichot at the beginning of Elul for 40 days (Think Moses on Mt. Sinai!)
- Ashkenazic Communities: Do Selichot services the Saturday night prior to Rosh Hashana UNLESS it’s less than 3-4 days before.
Core Themes
Sovereignty
There is an order to the way we are commanded to contemplate and recognize God's sovereignty.
Humility
Life is short and there are no guarantees that we will be here next year.
Remembrance
God ‘remembers’ us and metes out our judgment about how the next year will go (Unetaneh Tokef prayer).
Reparation
We examine our lives, make reparations where necessary, repent, atone and forgive others.
The Holidays
Rosh Hashana
Focuses on judgment - kingship and remembrance. Focuses on human responsibility and Divine judgment.
Liturgy & Components:
- No Hallel recited (to maintain seriousness).
- Erev service (Arvit), Shacharit, Shofar/Torah service, Minhah, and Tashlich.
- Shofar Blasts: Malchyot (Kingship), Zichronot (Remembrance), Shofarot (Revelation).
Yom Kippur
Focuses on human failure and Divine forgiveness. We can sin, but atone and attain forgiveness (Jonah Haftarah).
Root word: כפר (KPR) - Atonement
- Kol Nidre (All vows) - Nulls vows made under pressure or in error.
- Thirteen Attributes of God - Reminding us God is compassionate.
- Vidui (Communal Confession) and Ashamnu.
The Path of Return (Teshuvah)
Judgment and forgiveness is connected by Repentance (Teshuvah), Charity (Tzedakah), and Prayer (Tefillah). These can temper a harsh decree.
This is not to be confused with a deterministic view of life. We don’t believe in preordination. We have free choice. High Holidays is all about choosing to do teshuvah and return to the right path where we have veered.
Rituals & Traditions
- Preparation: Have made amends to those we’ve harmed. Forgive others, end bitterness and grudges. Clean Slate.
- Meal: Festive but subdued. Shir Ha Maalot, lighting Yom Tov candles, Shehecheyanu, and memorial candles for loved ones.
- Sukkot: Comes 5 days after Yom Kippur. A time of celebration (Yom simchateinu). Once we are done with the affliction, we are commanded to rejoice and be happy.
