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{{Short description|12th month of the Jewish civil and religious year and the 6th month of the biblical year}}
{{Short description|6th month of the Hebrew calendar}}
⚫
{{Infobox month
{{Italic title}}
⚫
| image = Liten askenasisk sjofar 5380.jpg
⚫
{{Hebrew month
| letname = Elul (אֱלוּל)
| alt = An Ashkenazi shofar
⚫
| caption = The [[shofar]] is blown every morning from the first day of Elul until [[Rosh Hashanah]] (except on [[Shabbat]]).
| previouslink = Av
| native_name = {{Native name|he| {{Script/Hebrew|אֱלוּל}}}}
| previousletter = Av
| nextlink = Tishrei
| calendar = [[Hebrew calendar]]
| nextletter = Tishrei
| num = 6
| num = 6
| days = 29
| days = 29
| season = Summer (Northern Hemisphere)
| gregorian = August–September
| season = Summer (Northern Hemisphere)
| gregorian = August–September
| holidays =
| prev_month = [[Av (month)|Av]]
⚫
| filename = Liten askenasisk sjofar 5380.jpg
| next_month = [[Tishrei]]
| name = An Ashkenazi shofar
⚫
| caption = The [[shofar]] is blown every morning from the first<br />day of Elul until [[Rosh Hashanah]] (except on [[Shabbat]]).
}}
}}
{{Teshuva}}
{{Teshuva}}
'''Elul''' ({{lang-he|אֱלוּל}}, <small>[[Hebrew language#Modern Hebrew|Standard]]</small> ''ʾElūl'', <small>[[Tiberian vocalization|Tiberian]]</small> ''ʾĔlūl'') is the twelfth [[month]] of the [[Jew]]ish civil year and the sixth month of the [[ecclesiastical year]] on the [[Hebrew calendar]]. It is a month of 29 days. Elul usually occurs in August–September on the [[Gregorian calendar]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hebcal.com/holidays/rosh-chodesh-elul |title=Rosh Chodesh Elul / ראש חודש אלול |access-date=1 September 2019}}</ref>
'''Elul''' ([[Hebrew language|Hebrew]]: {{Script/Hebrew|אֱלוּל}}, <small>[[Hebrew language#Modern Hebrew|Standard]]</small> {{transl|he|ʾElūl}}, <small>[[Tiberian vocalization|Tiberian]]</small> {{transl|he|ʾĔlūl}}) is the twelfth [[month]] of the civil year and the sixth month of the [[Jewish religious year|religious year]] in the [[Hebrew calendar]]. It is a month of 29 days. Elul usually occurs in August–September on the [[Gregorian calendar]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hebcal.com/holidays/rosh-chodesh-elul |title=Rosh Chodesh Elul |script-title=he:ראש חודש אלול |access-date=1 September 2019}}</ref>


==Etymology==
==Etymology==
The name of the month Elul, like the names of the rest of the Hebrew calendar months, was brought from the [[Babylonian captivity]], and originated from the Akkadian word for "harvest". A similar month name was also used in [[Akkadian language|Akkadian]], in the form ''Elūlu''. The month is known as Araḫ Ulūlu, "harvest month", in the [[Babylonian calendar]]. Eylül is also the name for September in [[Turkish language|Turkish]]; this is derived from {{lang-ar|أيلول}} ''ʾAylūl'', used in [[Iraq]] and the [[Levant]] (see [[Arabic names of calendar months]]), from [[Classical Syriac]] ܐܝܼܠܘܼܠ ''ʾĪlūl'', also tracing its origin from the [[Akkadian language|Akkadian]] word Elūlu.
The name of the month Elul, like the names of the rest of the Hebrew calendar months, was brought from the [[Babylonian captivity]], and originated from the Akkadian word for "harvest". A similar month name was also used in [[Akkadian language|Akkadian]], in the form ''Elūlu''. The month is known as ''Araḫ Ulūlu'' "harvest month" in the [[Babylonian calendar]]. The only difference is that in the Babylonian calendar, Ulūlu can serve as a [[leap month]], while in the [[Jewish calendar]], only [[Adar]] can serve as a leap month.<ref> It has been argued that one of [[Jeroboam]]'s sins was that he added an extra Elul to the calendar, causing the holiday of [[Sukkot]] to fall out in the eighth month instead of the seventh month. See {{cite journal | last1=Klein |first1=Reuven Chaim |year=2018 |title=The Leap-Month Fabricated by Jeroboam
| url=https://tobias-lib.ub.uni-tuebingen.de/xmlui/bitstream/handle/10900/148217/jbq_461_kleinjeroboam.pdf |journal=Jewish Bible Quarterly
|volume=46 |issue=1 |pages=13-18 |doi=10.17613/M6P843V9D}}</ref>

Eylül is also the name for September in [[Turkish language|Turkish]]; this is derived from {{langx|ar|أيلول}} ''ʾAylūl'', used in [[Iraq]] and the [[Levant]] (see [[Arabic names of Gregorian months]]), from {{langx|syc|ܐܝܼܠܘܼܠ|translit=Īlūl}}, also tracing its origin from the Akkadian word ''Elūlu''. In Hebrew, a popular [[backronym]] for Elul is from a verse in the [[Song of Songs]]: ''Ani LeDodi VeDodi Li'' (Chapter 6, verse 3A).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-08-07 |title=Welcome to Elul: Relationship is the key |url=https://www.myjewishlearning.com/2013/08/07/welcome-to-elul-relationship-is-the-key/ |access-date=2022-08-30 |website=My Jewish Learning |language=en-US}}</ref>


==Customs==
==Customs==
In Jewish tradition, the month of Elul is a time of [[repentance]] in preparation for the [[High Holy Days]] of [[Rosh Hashanah]] and [[Yom Kippur]]. The word "Elul" is similar to the root of the verb "search" in [[Aramaic]]. Jewish sources from the 14th century and on write that the Hebrew word "Elul" can be understood to be an acronym for the phrase "Ani L'dodi V'dodi Li" – "I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/16450/jewish/Chapter-6.htm |title=Shir Hashirim - Song of Songs - Chapter 6 |website=Chabad.org |access-date=1 September 2019}}</ref> Elul is seen as a time to search one's heart and draw close to God in preparation for the coming Day of Judgement, [[Rosh Hashanah]], and Day of Atonement, [[Yom Kippur]].<ref name="Suissa">{{cite web |last=Suissa |first=David |url=https://jewishjournal.com/opinion/120753/ |title=Love in the time of Elul |work=Jewish Journal |date=21 August 2013 |access-date=1 September 2019}}</ref> Rabbi [[Shneur Zalman of Liadi]] compared, by way of analogy, the month of Elul to a king visiting his peasants in the field before returning to his palace.
In Jewish tradition, the month of Elul is a time of [[repentance]] in preparation for the [[High Holy Days]] of [[Rosh Hashanah]] and [[Yom Kippur]]. The word "Elul" is similar to the root of the verb "search" in [[Aramaic]]. Jewish sources from the 14th century and on write that the Hebrew word "Elul" can be understood to be an [[Backronym|bacronym]] for the phrase "Ani L'dodi V'dodi Li" – "I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine", referring to one's relationship with God.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/16450/jewish/Chapter-6.htm |title=Shir Hashirim - Song of Songs - Chapter 6 |website=Chabad.org |access-date=1 September 2019}}</ref> Elul is seen as a time to search one's heart and draw close to God in preparation for the coming Day of Judgement, [[Rosh Hashanah]], and Day of Atonement, [[Yom Kippur]].<ref name="Suissa">{{cite web |last=Suissa |first=David |url=https://jewishjournal.com/opinion/120753/ |title=Love in the time of Elul |work=Jewish Journal |date=21 August 2013 |access-date=1 September 2019}}</ref> Rabbi [[Shneur Zalman of Liadi]] compared, by way of analogy, the month of Elul to a king visiting his peasants in the field before returning to his palace.


During the month of Elul, there are a number of special [[rituals]] leading up to the High Holy Days. It is [[Minhag|customary]] to blow the [[shofar]] every morning (except on [[Shabbat]]) from [[Rosh Hodesh]] Elul (the first day of the month) until the day before Rosh Hashanah. The blasts are meant to awaken one's spirits and inspire him to begin the soul searching which will prepare him for the High Holy Days. As part of this preparation, Elul is the time to begin the sometimes-difficult process of granting and asking for [[forgiveness]].<ref name="Suissa" /> It is also customary to recite [[Psalms|Psalm]] [https://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt2627.htm 27] every day from Rosh Hodesh Elul through [[Hoshanah Rabbah]] on [[Sukkot]] (in Tishrei).
During the month of Elul, there are a number of special [[rituals]] leading up to the High Holy Days. It is [[Minhag|customary]] to blow the [[shofar]] every morning (except on [[Shabbat]]) from [[Rosh Hodesh]] Elul (the first day of the month) until the day before Rosh Hashanah. The blasts are meant to awaken one's spirits and inspire believers to begin the soul searching which will prepare them for the High Holy Days. As part of this preparation, Elul is the time to begin the sometimes-difficult process of granting and asking for [[forgiveness]].<ref name="Suissa" /> It is also customary to recite a [[Psalms|Psalm]] ([https://mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt2627.htm 27]) every day from Rosh Hodesh Elul through [[Hoshanah Rabbah]] on [[Sukkot]] (in Tishrei).


Aside from the blowing of the shofar, the other significant ritual practice during Elul is to recite [[selichot]] (special penitential [[prayers]]) either every morning before [[sunrise]] beginning on the Sunday immediately before Rosh Hashanah, or, if starting Sunday would not afford four days of [[selichot]], then the Sunday one week prior ([[Ashkenazi]] tradition) or every morning during the entire month of Elul ([[Sephardi]] tradition). Ashkenazi Jews begin the recitation of selichot with a special service on Saturday night between solar mid-night (not 12:00) and morning light on the first day of Selichot.
Aside from the blowing of the shofar, the other significant ritual practice during Elul is to recite [[selichot]] (special penitential [[prayers]]) either every morning before [[sunrise]] beginning on the Sunday immediately before Rosh Hashanah, or, if starting Sunday would not afford four days of [[selichot]], then the Sunday one week prior ([[Ashkenazi]] tradition) or every morning during the entire month of Elul ([[Sephardi]] tradition). Ashkenazi Jews begin the recitation of selichot with a special service on Saturday night between solar mid-night (not 12:00) and morning light on the first day of Selichot.
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Many Jews also visit the [[graves]] of loved ones throughout the month in order to remember and honor those people in our past who inspire us to live more fully in the future.
Many Jews also visit the [[graves]] of loved ones throughout the month in order to remember and honor those people in our past who inspire us to live more fully in the future.


Another social custom is to begin or end all letters written during the month of Elul with wishes that the recipient have a good year. The standard blessing is "''K'tiva VaHatima Tova''" ("a good writing and sealing [of judgement]"), meaning that the person should be written and sealed in the [[Book of Life]] for a good year. Tradition teaches that on Rosh Hashanah, each person is written down for a good or a poor year, based on their actions in the previous one, and their sincere efforts at atoning for mistakes or harm. On Yom Kippur, that fate is "sealed."
Another social custom is to begin or end all letters written during the month of Elul with wishes that the recipient have a good year. The standard blessing is "{{transl|he|K'tiva VaHatima Tova}}" ("a good writing and sealing [of judgement]"), meaning that the person should be written and sealed in the [[Book of Life]] for a good year. Tradition teaches that on Rosh Hashanah, each person is written down for a good or a poor year, based on their actions in the previous one, and their sincere efforts at atoning for mistakes or harm. On Yom Kippur, that fate is "sealed."


==Elul in Jewish history==
==In Jewish history==
* '''1 Elul''' (1313 BCE) – [[Moses]] ascends [[Mount Sinai]] for 3rd 40 days
* '''1 Elul''' (1313 BCE) – [[Moses]] ascends [[Mount Sinai]] for 3rd set of 40 days
* '''1 Elul''' (520 BCE) – The Prophet [[Haggai]] commands that the rebuilding of the [[Second Temple]] continue
* '''1 Elul''' (520 BCE) – The Prophet [[Haggai]] commands that the rebuilding of the [[Second Temple]] continue
* '''2 Elul''' (1555) – [[Shulchan Aruch]] published
* '''2 Elul''' (1555) – [[Shulchan Aruch]] published
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* '''12 Elul''' (1945) – Rabbi [[Shlomo Zev Zweigenhaft]] publicly performs the first [[shechitah]] on German soil since it was outlawed by the [[Nazism|Nazis]] in 1933.<ref>[https://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=12353&st=&pgnum=7&hilite= Hapardes Rabbinical Monthly Journal Volume 19 Issue 7 October 1945 Page 7] (retrieved July 19, 2020)</ref><ref name="Hamodia 2012">{{cite journal |title=[[Hamodia]], Inyan Magazine (Vol. XV, Issue 706), April 25 2012 Kinyan L'Shabbos Page 16}}</ref>
* '''12 Elul''' (1945) – Rabbi [[Shlomo Zev Zweigenhaft]] publicly performs the first [[shechitah]] on German soil since it was outlawed by the [[Nazism|Nazis]] in 1933.<ref>[https://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=12353&st=&pgnum=7&hilite= Hapardes Rabbinical Monthly Journal Volume 19 Issue 7 October 1945 Page 7] (retrieved July 19, 2020)</ref><ref name="Hamodia 2012">{{cite journal |title=[[Hamodia]], Inyan Magazine (Vol. XV, Issue 706), April 25 2012 Kinyan L'Shabbos Page 16}}</ref>
* '''13 Elul''' (1909) – Death of [[Yosef Hayyim]]
* '''13 Elul''' (1909) – Death of [[Yosef Hayyim]]

* '''14 Elul''' (1983) – Birth of [[Shlomo Rafuel Ben Moshe Dovid]]

* '''15 Elul''' (1964) – birth of [[Watson de Emmanuel, OBE]]
* '''15 Elul''' (1964) – birth of [[Watson de Emmanuel, OBE]]
* '''17 Elul''' (2105 BCE) – [[Noah]] dispatches dove
* '''17 Elul''' (2105 BCE) – [[Noah]] dispatches dove
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* '''23 Elul''' (2105 BCE) – Dove brings olive Leaf to [[Noah]]
* '''23 Elul''' (2105 BCE) – Dove brings olive Leaf to [[Noah]]
* '''23 Elul''' (1942) – Death of the Grand Rabbi of [[Aleksander (Hasidic dynasty)|Aleksander]], Yitzchak Menachem Danziger, in [[Treblinka]]
* '''23 Elul''' (1942) – Death of the Grand Rabbi of [[Aleksander (Hasidic dynasty)|Aleksander]], Yitzchak Menachem Danziger, in [[Treblinka]]
* '''23 Elul''' (1978) – [[Vladimir Horowitz]] Golden Jubilee Concert was broadcast live by [[NBC]] from [[Avery Fisher Hall]] of [[New York Philharmonic]] conducted by [[Zubin Mehta]]
* '''23 Elul''' (2001) – [[September 11 attacks]]
* '''24 Elul''' (1933) – Death of [[Israel Meir Kagan]]
* '''24 Elul''' (1933) – Death of [[Israel Meir Kagan]]
* '''25 Elul''' (3761 BCE) – The 1st day of the world according to the [[Genesis creation narrative]]
* '''25 Elul''' (3761 BCE) – The 1st day of the world according to the [[Genesis creation narrative]]
* '''25 Elul''' (335 BCE) – [[Jerusalem]] Walls Rebuilt
* '''25 Elul''' (335 BCE) – [[Jerusalem]] Walls Rebuilt
* '''25 Elul''' (2nd century CE) – Death of [[Eleazar ben Simeon]], son of [[Simeon bar Yochai]]
* '''25 Elul''' (2nd century CE) – Death of [[Eleazar ben Simeon]], son of [[Simeon bar Yochai]]
* '''25 Elul''' (2016) - Death of [[Shimon Peres]]
* '''27 Elul''' (1855 CE) – Death of [[Sholom Rokeach]]
* '''27 Elul''' (1855 CE) – Death of [[Sholom Rokeach]]
* '''28 Elul''' (1983 CE) – Death of Rabbi [[Yoel Halpern]]
* '''28 Elul''' (1983 CE) – Death of Rabbi [[Yoel Halpern]]
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* [[Jewish astrology]]
* [[Jewish astrology]]
* [[Repentance in Judaism]]
* [[Repentance in Judaism]]
* [[Rosh Hashanah LaBehema]]
* [[Rosh Hashanah LeMa'sar Behemah]]
* [[Song of Songs]]
* [[Song of Songs]]
* [[Ellul]]


==References==
==References==

Latest revision as of 17:55, 26 December 2024

Elul
An Ashkenazi shofar
The shofar is blown every morning from the first day of Elul until Rosh Hashanah (except on Shabbat).
Native nameאֱלוּל‎ (Hebrew)
CalendarHebrew calendar
Month number6
Number of days29
SeasonSummer (Northern Hemisphere)
Gregorian equivalentAugust–September
← Av
Tishrei →
Repentance in Judaism Teshuva
"Return"
Repentance, atonement and
higher ascent in Judaism
High Priest on Yom Kippur
In the Hebrew Bible
Aspects
In the Jewish calendar
In contemporary Judaism

Elul (Hebrew: אֱלוּל‎, Standard ʾElūl, Tiberian ʾĔlūl) is the twelfth month of the civil year and the sixth month of the religious year in the Hebrew calendar. It is a month of 29 days. Elul usually occurs in August–September on the Gregorian calendar.[1]

Etymology

[edit]

The name of the month Elul, like the names of the rest of the Hebrew calendar months, was brought from the Babylonian captivity, and originated from the Akkadian word for "harvest". A similar month name was also used in Akkadian, in the form Elūlu. The month is known as Araḫ Ulūlu "harvest month" in the Babylonian calendar. The only difference is that in the Babylonian calendar, Ulūlu can serve as a leap month, while in the Jewish calendar, only Adar can serve as a leap month.[2]

Eylül is also the name for September in Turkish; this is derived from Arabic: أيلول ʾAylūl, used in Iraq and the Levant (see Arabic names of Gregorian months), from Classical Syriac: ܐܝܼܠܘܼܠ, romanized: Īlūl, also tracing its origin from the Akkadian word Elūlu. In Hebrew, a popular backronym for Elul is from a verse in the Song of Songs: Ani LeDodi VeDodi Li (Chapter 6, verse 3A).[3]

Customs

[edit]

In Jewish tradition, the month of Elul is a time of repentance in preparation for the High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. The word "Elul" is similar to the root of the verb "search" in Aramaic. Jewish sources from the 14th century and on write that the Hebrew word "Elul" can be understood to be an bacronym for the phrase "Ani L'dodi V'dodi Li" – "I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine", referring to one's relationship with God.[4] Elul is seen as a time to search one's heart and draw close to God in preparation for the coming Day of Judgement, Rosh Hashanah, and Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur.[5] Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi compared, by way of analogy, the month of Elul to a king visiting his peasants in the field before returning to his palace.

During the month of Elul, there are a number of special rituals leading up to the High Holy Days. It is customary to blow the shofar every morning (except on Shabbat) from Rosh Hodesh Elul (the first day of the month) until the day before Rosh Hashanah. The blasts are meant to awaken one's spirits and inspire believers to begin the soul searching which will prepare them for the High Holy Days. As part of this preparation, Elul is the time to begin the sometimes-difficult process of granting and asking for forgiveness.[5] It is also customary to recite a Psalm (27) every day from Rosh Hodesh Elul through Hoshanah Rabbah on Sukkot (in Tishrei).

Aside from the blowing of the shofar, the other significant ritual practice during Elul is to recite selichot (special penitential prayers) either every morning before sunrise beginning on the Sunday immediately before Rosh Hashanah, or, if starting Sunday would not afford four days of selichot, then the Sunday one week prior (Ashkenazi tradition) or every morning during the entire month of Elul (Sephardi tradition). Ashkenazi Jews begin the recitation of selichot with a special service on Saturday night between solar mid-night (not 12:00) and morning light on the first day of Selichot.

Many Jews also visit the graves of loved ones throughout the month in order to remember and honor those people in our past who inspire us to live more fully in the future.

Another social custom is to begin or end all letters written during the month of Elul with wishes that the recipient have a good year. The standard blessing is "K'tiva VaHatima Tova" ("a good writing and sealing [of judgement]"), meaning that the person should be written and sealed in the Book of Life for a good year. Tradition teaches that on Rosh Hashanah, each person is written down for a good or a poor year, based on their actions in the previous one, and their sincere efforts at atoning for mistakes or harm. On Yom Kippur, that fate is "sealed."

In Jewish history

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Rosh Chodesh Elul" ראש חודש אלול. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  2. ^ It has been argued that one of Jeroboam's sins was that he added an extra Elul to the calendar, causing the holiday of Sukkot to fall out in the eighth month instead of the seventh month. See Klein, Reuven Chaim (2018). "The Leap-Month Fabricated by Jeroboam" (PDF). Jewish Bible Quarterly. 46 (1): 13–18. doi:10.17613/M6P843V9D.
  3. ^ "Welcome to Elul: Relationship is the key". My Jewish Learning. 2013-08-07. Retrieved 2022-08-30.
  4. ^ "Shir Hashirim - Song of Songs - Chapter 6". Chabad.org. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  5. ^ a b Suissa, David (21 August 2013). "Love in the time of Elul". Jewish Journal. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  6. ^ Hapardes Rabbinical Monthly Journal Volume 19 Issue 7 October 1945 Page 7 (retrieved July 19, 2020)
  7. ^ "Hamodia, Inyan Magazine (Vol. XV, Issue 706), April 25 2012 Kinyan L'Shabbos Page 16". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
[edit]
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