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Shareמֵרֹאשׁ חֹדֶשׁ אֱלוּל עַד אַחַר יוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים, הֵמָּה יְמֵי רָצוֹן. וְאַף כִּי בְּכָל הַשָּׁנָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מְקַבֵּל תְּשׁוּבָה מִן הַשָּׁבִים אֵלָיו בְּלֵב שָׁלֵם, מִכָּל מָקוֹם יָמִים אֵלּוּ מֻבְחָרִים יוֹתֵר וּמְזֻמָּנִים לִתְשׁוּבָה, לִהְיֹתָם יְמֵי רַחֲמִים וִימֵי רָצוֹן, כִּי בְּרֹאשׁ חֹדֶשׁ אֱלוּל, עָלָה משֶׁה אֶל הַר סִינַי לְקַבֵּל לוּחוֹת שְׁנִיּיּם, וְנִשְׁתֵּהָה שָׁם אַרְבָּעִים יוֹם, וְיָרַד בַּעֲשָֹרָה בְּתִשְׁרִי, שֶׁהָיָה אָז גְּמַר כַּפָּרָה. וּמִן אָז הֻקְדְּשׁוּ יָמִים אֵלּוּ לִימֵי רָצוֹן, וְיוֹם עֲשִׂירִי בְּתִֹשְרִי לְיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים. וּמִנְהָג בְּרֹב הַמְּקוֹמוֹת לְהִתְעַנּוֹת בְּעֶרֶב רֹאשׁ חֹדֶשׁ אֱלוּל וְלַעֲשׂוֹת סֵדֶר יוֹם כִּפּוּר קָטָן, כְּדֵי שֶׁיָּכִינוּ לִבָּם לִתְשׁוּבָה...
עוֹד אָמְרוּ דּוֹרְשֵׁי רְשׁוּמוֹת, וּמָל ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ אֶת לְבָבְךָ וְאֶת לְבַב זַרְעֶךָ, רָאשֵׁי תֵּבוֹת אֱלוּל. וְכֵן אֲנִי לְדוֹדִי וְדוֹדִי לִי, רָאשֵׁי תֵּבוֹת אֱלוּל. וְכֵן אִישׁ לְרֵעֵהוּ וּמַתָּנוֹת לָאֶבְיוֹנִים רָאשֵׁי תֵּבוֹת אֱלוּל. רֶמֶז לִשְׁלֹשָׁה דְּבָרִים, שֶׁהֵם, תְּשׁוּבָה, תְּפִלָּה וּצְדָקָה, שֶׁצְרִיכִין לְהִזְדָּרֵז בָּהֶם בְּחֹדֶשׁ זֶה...
The days from the beginning of Elul until after Yom Kippur are days of Divine favor and acceptance. Yes, throughout the entire year the Holy One of Blessing accepts the repentance of those who return wholeheartedly; nevertheless, these days are unequaled and most suitable for repentance, because they are days of mercy and favor.
On Rosh Chodesh Elul, Moses ascended Mount Sinai to receive the Second Tablets; he remained there for forty days, and came down on the tenth day of Tishrei when the atonement was completed. Thereafter, these days were designated as days of Divine favor and acceptance, and the tenth day of Tishrei as Yom Kippur [Day of Atonement].
In many communities, it is the custom to fast on the day before Rosh Chodesh Elul and to recite the prayers of Yom Kippur Katan [minor Yom Kippur], in order to be spiritually prepared for repentance...
The interpreters of literary allusions added: It is written (Deuteronomy 30:6) "Adonai your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your children;" the initials of the words [et levavecho ve'et levav] form the acronym Elul.
Also, the initials of Ani ledodi vedodi li, "I am my Beloved's and my Beloved is mine," (Song of Songs 6:3) form the acronym Elul.
Also, the initials of Ish lerei'eihu umatanot la'evyonim,"One to another and gifts to the poor" (Esther 9:22) form the acronym Elul.
These acronyms hint at three things: Repentance, Prayer and Charity, which must be practiced zealously during this month...
The Kitzur Shulchan Arukh is a simplified summary of the Shulchan Arukh, "The Covered Table," first published in Syria in 1563 by Spehardic author Joseph Caro. The Shulchan Arukh still serves as the most widely referenced codex of Jewish halachah, the norms and practices of everyday Jewish life.
Study Questions
1. Why is Elul in an appropriate time for repentance, according to the text?
2. What practices help us achieve atonement, according to the text?
3. How might we make use of Elul to practice t'shuvah, returning to our best selves?
4. How might our tradition and our community help us be our best sevles in the year to come?
