A Month by Any Other Name

Elul tidbits as we prepare for the High Holiday season.

Sep 06, 2024

This Drop is dedicated to the six beautiful souls who were murdered by Hamas terrorists last week. This week, we’re talking about Elul and returning to your truest self, something they seemingly excelled at. Hersh believed in a Jerusalem for everyone. Almog enjoyed playing guitar. Carmel is said to have led fellow hostages in meditation to put them at ease, even in the worst circumstances (something that gives me chills because that’s what I would try to do in that situation), to name a few. Hersh, Almog, Carmel, Eden, Alex, and Ori: may your memories be a blessing.

[From left to right] Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Almog Sarusi, Eden Yerushalmi, Alexander Lobanov, Carmel Gat, and Ori Danino: the six hostages murdered by Hamas in Rafah.

Elul’s Deeper Meanings

You may already know this, but I didn’t, so I’m sure there are people out there who might learn a thing or two!

The four letters of Elul (אלול) are said to be an acronym for various biblical Hebrew sentences (we Jews love a good acronym). The most common is אני לדודי ודודי לי, “I am for my beloved and my beloved is for me,” (Song of Songs 6:3), expressing the closeness that we experience with G‑d during this time.

It’s also an acronym for את לבבך ואת לבב, from the line in the Shema: “Then G-d, your G-d, will open up your heart and the hearts of your [offspring].” The full verse of this prayer commands you to love G-d with all your heart, soul, and might.

But wait—there’s more! It’s also said to be an acronym for [ואשר לא צדה והאלקים] אנה לידו ושמתי לך [מקום], “[But one who did not stalk him, but G‑d] brought it about into his hand, I will make for you [a place to which he shall flee]” (Shemot 21:13). This is referring to the refuge that G‑d provides us all when we seek to rectify our past misdeeds. Yep, definitely smells like Elul.

🌹 Flower of the Month: The Rose

My friend, Tara, gifted me a beautiful Jewish calendar from At The Well which I’ve already hung at my desk at work! Each month features its own explanations and significance, including the flower of the month.

Elul’s flower is the rose, which tickles me because every Shabbat I like to exchange “roses", or highlights from the past week (no thorns here!). There are a couple of reasons and references as to why the rose is the Elul flower, but let’s stick with Song of Songs going back to the first acronym, “I am for my beloved and my beloved is for me,” which continues, “who grazes among the roses.”

Something I found beautiful was how the calendar described a rose as embodying both the power of vulnerable love and fierce strength. Roses are also known for their resilience, often blooming in hostile environments. If any flower captures the essence of Rachel, Hersh’s mother, I can’t think of a better one.

💬 Elul Quote

“For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.
For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.
For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.
For beautiful hair, let a child run his fingers through it once a day.
For poise, walk with the knowledge you’ll never walk alone.
...
We leave you a tradition with a future.
The tender loving care of human beings will never become obsolete.
People even more than things have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed and redeemed and redeemed and redeemed.
Never throw out anybody.

Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you’ll find one at the end of your arm.
As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands: one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.

Your ‘good old days’ are still ahead of you, may you have many of them.”
― Sam Levenson, In One Era & Out the Other