The Sixth month of Elul is a time to search the heart and draw close to the Father. The final ten days of this 40-day season are an intense period of soul searching and repentance between Yom Teruah and Yom Kippur, known as the Days of Awe. The Aramaic word, "Elul" means "search:" Elul is a time of intense searching of our hearts and forgivness from God.
Several meaningful abbreviations based on acronyms of various Hebrew verses have been associated with Elul. One source says the name "Elul" is actually an Hebrew acronym for the Song of Solomon's Ani L'dodi V'dodi Li...
Song of Songs 6:3 I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine...
Or Deuteronomy's ...Et L'vavcha V'et L'vav...
Deu 30:6 And the LORD thy God will circumcise
thine heart, and the heart of thy seed,
to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart,
and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.
Another acronym has to do with the burnt offerings and sin offerings, the Olah and the Chatat. These are referred to three times in the Torah.
Echad L'olah V'echad L'chatat
"One for a burnt offering (olah)
and one for a sin offering (chatat)"
It is customary to blow a Shofar every morning from the first day of the month, Rosh Chodesh Elul, to the last day of Elul. Here is a quote from a Jewish website that may help explain this custom:
According to tradition, Moshe (Moses) went up to Mount Sinai on Rosh Chodesh Elul to recieve the second set of tablets upon which the Ten Commandments were inscribed. Moshe then spent the next 40 days on the mountain, returning to the people on Yom Kippur. The first time Moshe went up to the mountain the people worshipped the Golden Calf because they miscalculated the 40 day period after which they expected Moshe to return. When Moshe did not come down at the appointed time, the people created the Golden Calf to lead them in his stead. Tradition teaches that when Moshe went up tot he mountain the second time, a shofar was sounded throughtout the encampment, so everyone would know exactly from when to begin counting the 40 days until his return.
Another custom is to recite Psalm 27 from Rosh Chodesh Elul until the middle of the Sukkot, 45 days later. Psalm 27 begins with:
"God is my light and my helper, whom shall I fear?"
The challenging spirtual work of Elul is made easier when we know that God is with us as we strive to draw closer to Him.
Another, rather sweet custom is to begin any correspondence with this blessing:
~K'tiva V'Chatima tova!~
"a good writing and sealing (of judgement)"
It means that the person should be written and sealed in the Book of Life for a good year.
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Tonight we held our monthly Shabbat meeting. Attendance was down due to illness but we still had a good time of study and fellowship. Our Study was based on Parashah #48, "Shoftim" or Judges:
Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9
Isaiah 51:12-52:12
John 1:19-27
Acts 3:22-23
The menu was varied as everyone brought a dish. My contribution was Greek, vegetarian, and gluten-free!
Shabbat Dinner
Greek Salad
Dolmas
tziki
olives
raw vegetable platter
rice pilaf
Shabbat Breakfast
cold gluten-free cereals
vanilla rice milk
fruit
Shabbat Lunch
Mediterranean Lentil salad (cold)
fruit
Shabbat Snacks
fruit
fruit juice popcicles
nuts
supper
four bean soup w/ sour grape seed and cilantro
toasted brown rice pilaf
ice cream
Other special treats:
I downloaded three rental documentaries regarding the Ark of the Covenant and the Dead Sea Scrolls. They look very interesting. I also ordered a book on the Lord's Prayer by Nehemia Gordon, and a video from AHRC about the Aaronic Blessing so we'll have lots to watch and study about this Shabbat.
Shabbat Shalom ve Shavua Tov!
~wow~
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