Elul and Repentance Rabbi Jonathan Keren-Black, Leo Baeck Centre, East Kew, victoria Introduction to Judaism course 5777 with thanks to the artists for pics borrowed from the internet

The Machzor

The Machzor The name of the Machzor reminds us that it is used repeatedly, cyclically, as it is derived from ‘Ch’Z’R meaning return. It is the name traditionally given to the prayer books for the annual biblical festivals, Pesach, Shavuot and Sukkot, and Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. The last two being the most important of the festivals in most people’s minds, the ‘Machzor’ is usually understood to mean the High Holyday prayer book. This is what we mean when we say ‘Machzor’ In fact, we have included the services for the three harvest, ‘pilgrim’, festivals of Pesach, Shavuot and Sukkot in the regular prayer book – the ‘Siddur’ (Mishkan T’filah World Union Edition).

Teshuvah

Teshuvah Teshuvah is often also translated as ‘returning’ though its root is ‘Sh U V’, which has more of the weight of ‘turn’, or ‘turn back’, or even ‘response (the opposite of Sh’eilah, question, is T’shuvah, answer). In terms of the High Holyday period, it means ‘Return’ and ‘Repentance’ – to turn back to the right way, the right path. Even if we have seemingly always done the wrong thing, or it is something very hard to change, we should remember that we are all born as perfect, unblemished souls, so even if it is a long way to turn back, there is always this pristine beginning to go back to!

Teshuvah

Elul The month leading up to Rosh Hashanah is called Elul. It is either the twelth and last month of the year if Tishrei is the first month, or it is the sixth month if we start at Pesach with Nisan in the (Northern Hemisphere) springtime.

Elul The names of the months are Babylonian. However Elul has been explained as standing for Ani L’dodi v’dodi Li from Song of Songs – I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine. This is taken to be love poetry between God and the Jewish people. In Aramaic, Elul means ‘search’.

Elul During Elul, the shofar is traditionally blown after every morning service, to sound the alarm, reminding us to prepare ourselves for the coming season. Some people visit the cemetery, not only to remember our loved ones, but also to remind us of life and death. Progressive Judaism Victoria has an annual memorial service. Some people visit the mikveh or ritual bath as a way of spiritually purifying themselves and preparing for the important days to come.

S’lichot As Rosh Hashanah approaches we add one or more S’likhot services (S’likhot means ‘sorries’, or ‘apologies’ – in modern hebrew s’likha means sorry). The main one is the Saturday evening before Rosh Hashanah, or the one before, so that at least three S’likhot sets of prayers can be recited, the remainder being early morning before the daily morning service. The ‘13 attributes of God’ are listed – they are a central theme through the High Holy days: a list of God’s thirteen attributes of mercy that were revealed to Moses after the sin of the golden calf.

God’s 13 attributes Adonai, [1] Adonai [2] Adonai El [3] God, Rakhum v’khanun, erech apayim v’rav chesed v’emet. Notsei chesed l’alafim, nosei avon, vafesha, v’chata’ah V’nakeh [1] Adonai [2] Adonai [3] God, [4] merciful [5] gracious [6] long-suffering [7] abundant in goodness [8] and truth [9] keeping mercy to 1000 generations [10] forgiving iniquity [11] and transgression [12] and sin [13] who cleanses  

Steps to Repentance and Forgiveness 1) First we must make every effort to repair the damage or hurt we have done, intentionally or inadvertently, to our selves, our friends, our colleagues, our world (did I admit to the dent I made in someone’s car door – did I pay for the repair? Did I offset my carbon emissions from that wonderful holiday I took this year? Did I apologise for the hurtful words? 2) Then we must forgive ourselves, and try to deeply internalise what we did, what led up to our actions, our feelings – to try to recognise them in future, to react differently – to react better, committed to being a better, nicer, kinder, calmer, more generous person in the future. 3) Finally, when we have done all we can ourselves, we ask God to forgive us, and help us to achieve our goal, to be better in the coming year.

Repentance

Yamim Noraim Yom is day – Yamim is the plural – days. Nora is awesome – or awe-ful. Jacob says ‘Mah Nora hamakom hazeh – when he dreams of the ladder to the heavens - how awesome is this place, and I did not know it’. The Yamim Noraim start with Rosh Hashanah and end ten days later with the concluding blow of the shofar at the end of Yom Kippur. So they last ten days, and are also known as ‘Aseret Y’mei T’shuvah – the Ten Days of Repentence (or Penitence).’