All-About-Elul
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Remember the following truth from our beloved Torah!
“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which
I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM
IT, that ye may keep the commandments of אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloleichem,
which I command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).
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With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
‘Elul’ - אֱלוּל is the Hebrew month that precedes our ‘High Holidays’ – ‘Rosh HaShanah’ and ‘Yom Kippur’.
Some say that the Hebrew letters that comprise the word ‘Elul’ - אֱלוּל (aleph, lamed, vav, lamed) are an acronym for “Ani l’dodi v’dodi li”, a verse from ‘Song of Songs’ that means “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine”. Most often interpreted as a dialogue of love poetry, the phrase also reflects the love between אֱלֹהִים - Elohim and us the Hebraic people. This is especially pertinent during this season as we assess our actions and behaviours during the past year while hoping for blessings in the coming year.
Several customs during the month of ‘Elul’ are designed to remind us of the liturgical season and help us prepare ourselves and our souls for the upcoming High Holidays.
1. Blowing the Shofar:
Traditionally, the Shofar is blown each morning (except on Shabbat) from the first day of Elul until the day before ‘Rosh HaShanah’. Its sound is intended to awaken the soul and kick start the spiritual accounting that happens throughout the month. In some congregations, the Shofar is sounded at the opening of each Shabbat service during Elul.
2. Saying special prayers:
Selichot (special penitential prayers) are recited during the month of Elul. A special Selichot service is conducted late in the evening, often by candlelight on the Saturday evening one week before ‘Rosh HaShanah’.
3. Reading Psalm 27:
It is customary to read Psalm 27 each day from the beginning of Elul through ‘Hoshana Rabbah’, the last day of ‘Sukkot’.
Let us read it now, in Ivrit - Hebrew and
English:
לְדָוִד:
יְהוָה, אוֹרִי
וְיִשְׁעִי-מִמִּי
אִירָא
יְהוָה
מָעוֹז-חַיַּי,
מִמִּי
אֶפְחָד
“1. (A Psalm) of David. יְהוָה - the LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? יְהוָה - the LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
בִּקְרֹב
עָלַי, מְרֵעִים-
לֶאֱכֹל אֶת-בְּשָׂרִי
צָרַי
וְאֹיְבַי
לִי; הֵמָּה
כָשְׁלוּ
וְנָפָלוּ
2. When evil-doers came upon me to eat up my flesh, even mine adversaries and my foes, they stumbled and fell.
אִם-תַּחֲנֶה
עָלַי, מַחֲנֶה-
לֹא-יִירָא
לִבִּי
אִם-תָּקוּם
עָלַי, מִלְחָמָה-
בְּזֹאת, אֲנִי
בוֹטֵחַ
3. Though a host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war should rise up against me, even then will I be confident.
אַחַת,
שָׁאַלְתִּי
מֵאֵת-יְהוָה-
אוֹתָהּ
אֲבַקֵּשׁ
שִׁבְתִּי
בְּבֵית-יְהוָה,
כָּל-יְמֵי
חַיַּי
לַחֲזוֹת
בְּנֹעַם-יְהוָה,
וּלְבַקֵּר
בְּהֵיכָלוֹ
4. One thing have I asked of יְהוָה - the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of יְהוָה - the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the graciousness of יְהוָה - the LORD, and to visit early in His temple.
כִּי
יִצְפְּנֵנִי,
בְּסֻכֹּה- בְּיוֹם
רָעָה
יַסְתִּרֵנִי,
בְּסֵתֶר
אָהֳלוֹ; בְּצוּר,
יְרוֹמְמֵנִי
5. For He concealeth me in His pavilion in the day of evil; He hideth me in the covert of His tent; He lifteth me up upon a rock.
וְעַתָּה
יָרוּם
רֹאשִׁי, עַל
אֹיְבַי
סְבִיבוֹתַי, וְאֶזְבְּחָה
בְאָהֳלוֹ, זִבְחֵי
תְרוּעָה
אָשִׁירָה
וַאֲזַמְּרָה,
לַיהוָה
6. And now shall my head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me; and I will offer in His tabernacle sacrifices with trumpet-sound; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto יְהוָה - the LORD.
שְׁמַע-יְהוָה קוֹלִי אֶקְרָא; וְחָנֵּנִי וַעֲנֵנִי
7. Hear, O יְהוָה - LORD, when I call with my voice, and be gracious unto me, and answer me.
לְךָ, אָמַר לִבִּי-בַּקְּשׁוּ פָנָי; אֶת-פָּנֶיךָ יְהוָה אֲבַקֵּשׁ
8. In Thy behalf my heart hath said: 'Seek ye My face'; Thy face, יְהוָה - LORD, will I seek.
אַל-תַּסְתֵּר
פָּנֶיךָ, מִמֶּנִּי
אַל תַּט-בְּאַף,
עַבְדֶּךָ
עֶזְרָתִי
הָיִיתָ; אַל-תִּטְּשֵׁנִי
וְאַל-תַּעַזְבֵנִי,
אֱלֹהֵי
יִשְׁעִי
9. Hide not Thy face from me; put not Thy servant away in anger; Thou hast been my help; cast me not off, neither forsake me, O אֱלֹהִים - Elohim of my salvation.
כִּי-אָבִי וְאִמִּי עֲזָבוּנִי; וַיהוָה יַאַסְפֵנִי
10. For though my father and my mother have forsaken me, יְהוָה - the LORD will take me up.
הוֹרֵנִי יְהוָה, דַּרְכֶּךָ: וּנְחֵנִי, בְּאֹרַח מִישׁוֹר-לְמַעַן, שׁוֹרְרָי
11. Teach me Thy way, O יְהוָה - LORD; and lead me in an even path, because of them that lie in wait for me.
אַל-תִּתְּנֵנִי, בְּנֶפֶשׁ צָרָי: כִּי קָמוּ-בִי עֵדֵי-שֶׁקֶר, וִיפֵחַ חָמָס
12. Deliver me not over unto the will of mine adversaries; for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out violence.
לוּלֵא-הֶאֱמַנְתִּי, לִרְאוֹת בְּטוּב-יְהוָה: בְּאֶרֶץ חַיִּים
13. If I had not believed to look upon the goodness of יְהוָה - the LORD in the land of the living!
קַוֵּה, אֶל-יְהוָה: חֲזַק, וְיַאֲמֵץ לִבֶּךָ; וְקַוֵּה, אֶל-יְהוָה
14. Wait on יְהוָה - the LORD; be strong, and let thy heart take courage; yea, wait thou for יְהוָה - the LORD”
4. Reflecting:
Elul is a month during which we are encouraged to study and take time to reflect on our actions over the past year, seeking forgiveness from those we have wronged or with whom we have “missed the mark”. There are many readily available resources to help you make this process interactive.
May you find meaning and fulfillment in this time leading up to the ‘High Holidays’.
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Please Note: “hebraicstudies”
links are located down the page!
This site was originally created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or three times a day (if possible) and always seek our beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance, for His love is always with us, especially when we seek Him, blessed be He! However this site has become very much a teaching site with hundreds of studies!
Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be
He, said the following through a number of our prophets...
“The More Torah, the More Life”,
For Elohim is the One who
gave us our ... “Life!”
May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace
of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts, be with
you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as
the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and continue saying your
daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s - Prayers and
regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s - blessings before food
and drinks, etc!
שָׁלוֹם
עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom
Aleichem - Peace be with you!
Enter ...