Elul: The Steady Work of Turning

As we enter the month of Elul on Sunday evening, I find my attention turning inward. This is the final month of the Jewish year, a period our tradition sets aside as a dedicated runway to the High Holy Days. It marks the formal start of Cheshbon haNefesh (חֶשְׁבּוֹן הַנֶּפֶשׁ), the “accounting of the soul” that prepares us for Rosh haShanah and Yom Kippur. Each morning in Elul (except on Shabbat), it is traditional to sound a single, piercing blast of the shofar, a spiritual wake-up call for the soul.

Despite being an economist by training, I find that the phrase “accounting of the soul” can sound intimidating, like a stern audit. I prefer to think of it as a gentle, but honest, “visit of the soul.” It’s a time to ask: Where have my actions aligned with my values this past year? Where have I missed the mark? In what areas of my life do I yearn for growth, forgiveness, or change?

While our Progressive tradition encourages this kind of mindful self-assessment all year long, Elul provides a powerful, communal framework for this sacred work. It gives us permission to dedicate focused time to the task. Just as we might prepare our homes for an important guest, Elul gives us 29 days to prepare our hearts and minds for the awesome spiritual potential of Rosh haShanah and Yom Kippur. It is a gift from our tradition, an annual chance to recalibrate our internal compass and set our intentions for the year to come.

But what does this “visit” actually look like in practice? It starts with creating small moments for reflection. This can be as simple as setting a daily phone reminder to pause, take a deep breath, and ask, “What can I begin to repair today?” For those who appreciate more guidance, I highly recommend the daily prompts from Rabbi Jordan Braunig and the Jewish Studio Project, which offer a creative doorway into this work. You can sign up for them here: http://bit.ly/4mwXoYG

From there, we can turn to our relationships. This might mean making a simple list of connections that need mending and identifying one small first step towards repair. This applies to our digital lives, too, reviewing our online conduct and curating our feeds to nurture compassion rather than anxiety. Finally, we can align our outer resources with our inner values, perhaps by reviewing our plan for tzedakah for the year ahead, and dedicating time to t'filah (prayer), whether through formal liturgy, a quiet moment, or humming a wordless melody (a niggun) to centre the spirit.

Elul in South Africa, as in Brazil, coincides with the turn towards spring, a fitting reminder that renewal in our tradition is not naïve optimism but the fruit of steady, honest work. May this month bring courage for truth-telling, tenderness for ourselves and others, and the joy that comes from making things right, one step at a time.

Shabbat Shalom!