Elul, the last month of the Hebrew calendar, is traditionally the start of the agricultural year and the season of teshuva: the time when Jewish people take account of our lives and make amends for those hurt, in preparation for the “high holidays” of Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur. As Elul approaches (Rosh Chodesh Elul starts this Shabbat), let’s look at what our tradition says about it and examine how we can use it to help make our lives a bit more excellent.
(א) אַרְבָּעָה רָאשֵׁי שָׁנִים הֵם. בְּאֶחָד בְּנִיסָן רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה לַמְּלָכִים וְלָרְגָלִים. בְּאֶחָד בֶּאֱלוּל רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה לְמַעְשַׂר בְּהֵמָה. רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר וְרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמְרִים, בְּאֶחָד בְּתִשְׁרֵי. בְּאֶחָד בְּתִשְׁרֵי רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה לַשָּׁנִים וְלַשְּׁמִטִּין וְלַיּוֹבְלוֹת, לַנְּטִיעָה וְלַיְרָקוֹת. בְּאֶחָד בִּשְׁבָט, רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה לָאִילָן, כְּדִבְרֵי בֵית שַׁמַּאי. בֵּית הִלֵּל אוֹמְרִים, בַּחֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר בּוֹ:
(ב) בְּאַרְבָּעָה פְרָקִים הָעוֹלָם נִדּוֹן, בְּפֶסַח עַל הַתְּבוּאָה, בַּעֲצֶרֶת עַל פֵּרוֹת הָאִילָן, בְּרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה כָּל בָּאֵי הָעוֹלָם עוֹבְרִין לְפָנָיו כִּבְנֵי מָרוֹן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים לג) הַיּוֹצֵר יַחַד לִבָּם, הַמֵּבִין אֶל כָּל מַעֲשֵׂיהֶם. וּבֶחָג נִדּוֹנִין עַל הַמָּיִם:
(1) The four new years are: On the first of Nisan, the new year for the kings and for the festivals; On the first of Elul, the new year for the tithing of animals; Rabbi Eliezer and Rabbi Shimon say, on the first of Tishrei. On the first of Tishrei, the new year for years, for the Sabbatical years and for the Jubilee years and for the planting and for the vegetables. On the first of Shevat, the new year for the trees according to the words of the House of Shammai; The House of Hillel says, on the fifteenth thereof.
(2) At four times the world is judged: On Pesach, for the crops. On Shavuot, for the fruits of the tree. On Rosh Hashnah, all the world passes before Him like sheep, as it says, "He that fashioneth the hearts of them all, that considereth all their doings." (Psalms 33:15) And on Sukkot, they are judged for the water.
This source, from the Mishnah (some of the oldest legal, religious, and philosophical reasoning in Judaism), shows that Elul, and the holidays it leads into (Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur) have long been important within Judaism. The celebrations have evolved to a significantly different form than they were back then, but the meaning is still the same. Elul, and the yamim nora’im (Days of Awe, or High Holidays) are a time for nature appreciation, reflection, examination, and most of all teshuva (making amends and returning to our highest ethical value lues and principles).
Let’s look at a video—by my converting rabbi, Rabbi Miriam Jerris—which shows a more modern Jewish take a on Elul and the High Holidays:
As you can see from Rabbi Jerris’ comments, Elul brings different practices today than it did for those in Mishnaic times, but those themes of nature appreciation, reflection, and teshuva are still there.
Let’s look at another video from another modern, but more theistic perspective. Modern Orthodox Rabbi Dr. Jacob J. Schacter has this to say:
As you can see from Rabbi Schacter’s message, his position, rooted in Orthodox Judaism, is different — more focused on G-d and the supposed action of the divine. But the core is still there—reflection, nature appreciation, and teshuva. All thoroughout Judaism, Elul calls us to these things and recognizes the transformative power that returning to our highest values has on our world.
Lastly — why does Elul matter? Why do our highest values matter? What do they do in the real world? This article here, from Clark Mindock of the independent, shows one way in which injustice runs rampant in our world and one way that action, rooted in ethics, can help stop it:
But has anything changed?
The shooting of Mr Brown led the Justice Department to conduct a study of the situation there, and that probe ultimately revealed deeply entrenched and blatant racist bias in the police department.
The study — and the unrest that followed the shooting itself — forced a change in Ferguson.
The city has seen an increase in the number of black members of the city council, the number of minorities on the police force, and the instalment of a black chief of police there.
——
As you can see, people putting their values into action hasn’t solved this problem entirely: police shootings of innocent black Americans still occur on an all-too-frequent basis. But those small changes brought about by teshuva add up, and at least in this one community, changes have been made that will undoubtedly increase equality and save lives.
Questions:
1. What are your highest ethics and values? How can you use Elul to reflect on them?
2. What is one area of your life that can you can impact through doing teshuva?
3. How does Jewish tradition, including modernity, inspire you personally?