The name of the month directly before Rosh HaShana is called Elul אלול. In Hebrew the letters א, ל, ו, ל form an acronym for אני לדודי ודודי לי ani l'dodi ve' dodi li --- a line from the Song of Songs meaning "I am for my beloved and my beloved is for me."
This is appropriate for the month of Elul because it speaks of this time as one of return, coming back together between Israel and God. This is not simply "getting back in line" but a return to a loving, intimate relationship.
It is customary for people to say this psalm every day of the month of Elul.
(ד) וַיִּפְסֹ֡ל שְׁנֵֽי־לֻחֹ֨ת אֲבָנִ֜ים כָּרִאשֹׁנִ֗ים וַיַּשְׁכֵּ֨ם מֹשֶׁ֤ה בַבֹּ֙קֶר֙ וַיַּ֙עַל֙ אֶל־הַ֣ר סִינַ֔י כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה יְהוָ֖ה אֹת֑וֹ וַיִּקַּ֣ח בְּיָד֔וֹ שְׁנֵ֖י לֻחֹ֥ת אֲבָנִֽים׃ (ה) וַיֵּ֤רֶד יְהוָה֙ בֶּֽעָנָ֔ן וַיִּתְיַצֵּ֥ב עִמּ֖וֹ שָׁ֑ם וַיִּקְרָ֥א בְשֵׁ֖ם יְהוָֽה׃ (ו) וַיַּעֲבֹ֨ר יְהוָ֥ה ׀ עַל־פָּנָיו֮ וַיִּקְרָא֒ יְהוָ֣ה ׀ יְהוָ֔ה אֵ֥ל רַח֖וּם וְחַנּ֑וּן אֶ֥רֶךְ אַפַּ֖יִם וְרַב־חֶ֥סֶד וֶאֱמֶֽת ׀ (ז) נֹצֵ֥ר חֶ֙סֶד֙ לָאֲלָפִ֔ים נֹשֵׂ֥א עָוֺ֛ן וָפֶ֖שַׁע וְחַטָּאָ֑ה וְנַקֵּה֙ (לֹ֣א יְנַקֶּ֔ה פֹּקֵ֣ד ׀ עֲוֺ֣ן אָב֗וֹת עַל־בָּנִים֙ וְעַל־בְּנֵ֣י בָנִ֔ים עַל־שִׁלֵּשִׁ֖ים וְעַל־רִבֵּעִֽים׃)
(4) So Moses carved two tablets of stone, like the first, and early in the morning he went up on Mount Sinai, as the LORD had commanded him, taking the two stone tablets with him. (5) The LORD came down in a cloud; He stood with him there, and proclaimed the name LORD. (6) The LORD passed before him and proclaimed: “The LORD! the LORD! a God compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in kindness and faithfulness, (7) extending kindness to the thousandth generation, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin;(yet He does not remit all punishment, but visits the iniquity of parents upon children and children’s children, upon the third and fourth generations.”)
The "Thirteen Attributes" of God come from these verses in Exodus. They are the center of the Selichot services which are said during the month of Elul. In the Sephardi custom, these are said every day, early in the morning before the Shacharit service. In the Ashkenazi custom they are said during the final week of Elul, also either early in the morning, or late at night.
What Are the 13 Attributes?
The 13 Attributes of Mercy, according to the generally accepted opinions of Rabbenu Tam and Abudraham, are as follows:
– The Lord! (Adonai)–God is merciful before a person sins! Even though aware that future evil lies dormant within him.
– The Lord! (Adonai)–God is merciful after the sinner has gone astray.
– God (El)–a name that denotes power as ruler over nature and humankind, indicating that God’s mercy sometimes surpasses even the degree indicated by this name.
– Compassionate (rahum)–God is filled with loving sympathy for human frailty does not put people into situations of extreme temptation, and eases the punishment of the guilty.
– Gracious (v’hanun)–God shows mercy even to those who do not deserve it consoling the afflicted and raising up the oppressed.
– Slow to anger (ereh apayim)–God gives the sinner ample time to reflect, improve, and repent.
– Abundant in Kindness (v’rav hesed)–God is kind toward those who lack personal merits, providing more gifts and blessings than they deserve; if one’s personal behavior is evenly balanced between virtue and sin, God tips the scales of justice toward the good.
– Truth (v’emet)–God never reneges on His word to reward those who serve Him.
– Preserver of kindness for thousands of generations (notzeir hesed la-alafim)–God remembers the deeds of the righteous for thebenefit of their less virtuous generations of offspring (thus we constantly invoke the merit of the Patriarchs).
– Forgiver of iniquity (nosei avon)–God forgives intentional sin resulting from an evil disposition, as long as the sinner repents.
– Forgiver of willful sin (pesha)–God allows even those who commit a sin with the malicious intent of rebelling against and angering Him the opportunity to repent.
– Forgiver of error (v’hata’ah)–God forgives a sin committed out of carelessness, thoughtlessness, or apathy.
– Who cleanses (v’nakeh)–God is merciful, gracious, and forgiving, wiping away the sins of those who truly repent; however, if one does not repent, God does not cleanse.
My Jewish Learning from The JPS Guide to Jewish Traditions,
Starting after Tisha B'Av and going throughout Elul special it is customary to read the "7 Haftorot of Consolation." These are all from the prophet Isaiah, in his comforting the Israelites after their exile to Babylonia--promising them that they will be comforted, forgiven and returned to their homeland and to a time of reconciliation. We read here one example which is read on the 6th week.
Before a king enters his city, its inhabitants go out to greet him and receive him in the field. At that time, anyone who so desires is granted permission [and can] approach him and greet him. He receives them all pleasantly, and shows a smiling countenance to all . .
This is a Facebook post from my friend and colleague Rabbi Mimi Feigelson (one of the best teachers of Jewish mysticism around):
I BEG YOU TO USE THIS ELUL TO RECLAIM WHAT COVID HAS CLAIMED!!!!
After a whole year teaching and learning about finding and returning lost objects of the heart and soul, the King/Queen is "returning again to the field" to bring us back parts of ourselves that we have lost during this pandemic. PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT OR MORE TO REACH OUT AND GREET THE ONE!
torah from a few years ago that i hold on to:
When we lose our love for a person that we once indeed loved deeply; when remembering how there was a time where our belief in God, humanity, or a sustaining philosophy that held us are now lost from us; when words of the siddur (prayer book) that once felt like 'home' have lost their meaning and significance - in these moments, who is the finder of such losses in our life?
For Rebbe Nachman of Breslov (1772-1810) the answer is quite obvious - the Ribbono Shel Olam (the Master of the World) - S/He is the finder of such losses. And S/He will hold on to it for us until we are ready to reclaim it and bring it back into our direct possession. We may need time to work through a relationship or a theological challenge. But God's time is infinite, and as long as we hold on to the desire to return to the plain that we stood on (and then reach out higher and higher), then it is only lost to us, but not to its own existence. And our Creator will hold on to it, in faith, trust and love till we come to claim it.
I would like to suggest taking Rebbe Nachman's teaching one step further and bring it one step closer. Can we be this 'spiritual finder' for each other? Can we hold on to each other’s greatness and promise, in those moments when one of us has lost their vision? Can we help each other reclaim that which was dear to our heart and soul?
While journeying through this month of Elul and cleaning out the rooms of our heart and soul, can we designate one corner as a 'lost and found' for our dear ones to come and claim that which they have lost, and we in love and faith have been holding on to for them?