Elul in a Nutshell- *
As the last month of the Jewish year, Elul is traditionaly a time of introspection and stocktaking -- a time to review one's deeds and spiritual progress over the past year and prepare for the upcoming "Days of Awe" of Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur. The fall holy days have a significant relevence for the messianic believer as they are an outline of the events of the return of Yeshua the "Jewish" Messiah to the world. Just as his first coming 2000 years ago was laid out in the spring Holydays our Peachal Lamb is laying out his return and as certianly as the country Israel returned from the dead. The resurrected King will return to David's Throne in the holy city Yerusalemim. And will fullfill the promises laid out in the Torah, the book of Daniel, and the Revelation of John.
The fall Holydays come after the long hot summer the fields have been sown. The dry parched land is becoming ripe for harvest and crys for rain go up heaven word. These 2000 years have been the long hot summer and we are nearing the last days before the return this is symbolised in the month of Elul.
As the month of "Divine Mercy and Forgiveness," Elul is a most opportune time for teshuvah ("return" to G-d), prayer, charity, and increased Ahavat Yisrael (love for a fellow Jew) in the quest for self-improvement and coming closer to G-d. Some compare the month of Elul to a time when "the king is in the field" and, in contrast to when he is in the royal palace, "everyone who so desires is permitted to meet him, and he receives them all with a cheerful countenance and shows a smiling face to them all."
The following are some of the basic customs and practices for the month of Elul:
Each day of the month of Elul (except for Shabbat and the last day of Elul), we sound the shofar (ram's horn) as a call to repentance.
When writing a letter or meeting one another, we bless one another by including the greeting Ketivah vachatimah tovah--which roughly translates as "May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year."
Chapter 27 of the Book of Psalms is added to daily prayers, in the morning and afternoon.
The reciting of three additional chapters of Psalms each day, from the 1st of Elul until Yom Kippur (on Yom Kippur the remaining 36 chapters are recited, thereby completing the entire book of Psalms).
Elul is a good time to be diligent in your use of tefillin and mezuzot
During the last week of Elul, in the days leading up to Rosh Hashanah, the Slichot prayers are recited, the first night at midnight, the following days in the early morning.
Following the end of the month season of change starts, the End or new Begining/Rosh Chodesh
The second coming on Rosh HaShanah/The day of the awakening Blast.
The day of Atonements for the Rightieous/Yom Kippurim
The Judgement of the Nations/ Rightieous Dwelling in Booths/Greater Exodus/ the Fest of Tabernacles
The the call of the return of the bride Israel restored forever/ Shimini Atzerets/the Eighth Day and the Wedding Celebration/ Simchat Torah/ Rejoiceing in the Word.
Below is info on each of these Days of Awe!
*Basic information on the Jewish Holidays is from Chabad.org respectfully unedited.
