Each year as summer fades into fall, Jewish tradition invites us to turn inward. The month of Elul precedes the High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. We dedicate this time to preparing ourselves for the holidays so that we can experience them as fully as possible. During Elul we are asked to look into ourselves. We think about who we are and who we want to be. Whose forgiveness do we need in order for us to enter a new year with a clean slate? Judaism offers help for this period of introspection in several ways: The shofar sounds daily, awakening us from complacency; later in the month, prayers of repentance—selikhot—are added to the daily liturgy. Perhaps most important, during Elul, we can support each other through the process of requesting and offering forgiveness with full and open hearts.Â
“The King awaits, / Tangible / As the flowers / Of the field…”
“I have plenty more to tell You now”
A ritual to prepare for the High Holy Days using the framework of the Four Worlds
“I once thought / that if I studied enough, I’d be able to understand You”
“We forgive to heal ourselves”
Honoring the memory of the deceased
“We have abstained from uncomfortable growth”
A journey of art making, writing, and meditation
Ritual to do at home with a bowl of water and ice
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