There was an advert some time ago that stuck in my mind. Of course that’s exactly what adverts are supposed to do, but fortunately this one by the side of the road didn’t distract me from my driving, it just got me thinking. The advert was for Easyjet, the budget airline, and you may even remember it; it was a large striking orange poster, with just four words in big bold letters: YOU ARE HERE. WHY? No doubt the intention was that we would be stirred to book a last minute holiday, but it strikes me that it would equally make a pretty good Jewish advert for the month of Elul. Elul is the month of preparation leading up to Rosh Hashanah, which is just starting. Though the shofar symbolises Rosh Hashanah for many of us, the tradition is actually that it is blown each morning through the month of Elul.
A Chasidic parable, retold in our High Holyday machzor asks:
Why sound the shofar in Elul?
In Elul, God can be compared to a Ruler who leaves the palace to tour the land and become acquainted with the people in their work. In Tishri God is the Ruler who sits in the inner court of a fortified palace, passing judgments on the people.
When a Ruler leaves the palace and walks the land everyone can have a meeting with great ease, but once back in the castle, interviews are less readily available. You must first get to the top of the steepest of hills where stands the castle. You must then convince the guards at the gate that you are genuine and then at the next gate and next gate and all the gates. If you have the strength for all this, you may reach the inner chamber where the supreme judge sits on a throne entering life or death into the book of judgment.
So get to know God in Elul when coming out to meet you. Study and repent and do good deeds and then it might be, when you go to the castle in Tishri, you will be less terrified on the journey and more familiar with the judge.
Why sound the shofar in Elul? To remind you that God is in the field each day.
But that is only one interpretation of why we sound the shofar in Elul. The month of preparation is a recognition that if Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are really to be meaningful, to provide an opportunity to reflect on our lives and make changes where necessary, then we need to think about them before they arrive. Each morning in Elul the shofar reminds us:
T’ki’ah – Rosh Hashanah is coming!
Sh’varim – Yom Kippur will soon be here!
T’ru’ah – Repent now to avoid the Yom Kippur rush!
Each morning in Elul, the shofar nags us, challenges us – You are here. Why? Not a geographical question – ‘Why are you here, why aren’t you on holiday?’ Rather a personal, philosophical, spiritual question – ‘Why are you at this point in your life? Why are you the person you are? Where do you want to be?’ – what in Hebrew is called a cheshbon nefesh, a weighing up of oneself. The High Holydays are approaching, and a month of self-preparation is just getting underway.
You are here. Why?
From the beginning of Elul right through to the High Holydays is a journey, but I’m afraid you can’t get to Rosh Hashanah by Easyjet. El-ul is really the only way to fly. Please ensure that your emotional baggage is safely stored in the overhead locker, and have a safe flight.
Chodesh tov. A good month.