It’s Purim In August!

Today is the first day of the last month of the Jewish year, Elul.  Since this is the month before we beg forgiveness from God for totally screwing each other and God over for the past year, we’re supposed to spend Elul focusing on being better people and making marked improvements in our religious practices. It’s kind of a scary time.  Every morning we get a nice little blast of the shofar to remind us of what’s coming up in a few weeks, and if you’re spehardic you start saying selichot (supplicatory prayers), tomorrow morning (if you’re ashkenzai you’ve got a couple of weeks left before that begins).  And we’re not talking a couple of measly paragraphs of half-assed apologetic lip service– we’re talking upwards of an hour of heavy scary stuff.  The threat of not being inscribed in the Book of Life is a pretty terrifying possibility to those who take this kind of thing seriously, and it’s not generally treated with much levity. In this spirit Elul is often said to be an acronym for the famous words from the Songs of Songs, “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.”  (In Hebrew, “Ani l’dodi v’dodi li.”)  The point is that we are in a serious relationship with God, and as such we have obligations to God.  If we’ve been somewhat careless with our connection to the Big Guy, this is meant to be a wakeup call and a reminder to get back with the program. But I’ve heard other interpretations of Elul, as well.  Besides being an acronym for that verse in Song of Songs, it’s also an acronym for part of a verse in the book of Esther.  At the end of Esther we’re told, “-the same days on which the Jews enjoyed relief from their foes and the same month which had been transformed for them from one of grief and mourning to one of festive joy.  They were to observe them as days of feasting and merrymaking and as an occasion of sending gifts to one another and presents to the poor.” (Esther 9:22)  The end of this verse, “sending gifts to one another and presents to the poor” also works as an acronym for Elul (in Hebrew it’s “Ish l’re’eihu v’matanot l’evyonim.”)   
If we take this verse to heart we’re reminded that the month of Elul is a time when we really have to get things together in our interpersonal affairs.  Whether it’s a fight with a coworker of family member, or a failed commitment to give more money to tzedakah, Elul is about living up to our relationships with each other.  And I’m not saying that’s any easier than trying to path things up with God, but I do think that once you’ve made the effort to smooth over whatever happened at Thanksgiving with your Uncle Harry you’re more likely to feel more successful when you ask God for forgiveness on Rosh Hashana.  It’s obviously not a foolproof plan, but I’ve found that if I really commit myself to my friends and neighbors during Elul I feel a lot more prepared for Rosh Hashana than I do if I focus only on all those times I said shma way after the correct time.  Anyway, wishing everyone a hopeful and fulfilling Elul.