Elul

Everything You Need To Know

Daily Quotes

“When we are no longer able to change a situation – we are challenged to change ourselves.”

– Viktor E. Frankl

“They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.”

– Andy Warhol

Daily Reading

Elul: How To Realistically Change The World by Rabbi Benjamin Blech

Feeling down about the state of the world? Hard to read the newspapers with all of the tragedies that have become part and parcel of our daily lives? Well the...

Daily Sources

“אני לדודי ודודי לי”

“I am to my Beloved and my Beloved is to me.”

– Shir HaShirim 6:3

The name of the month of Elul can be read as an acronym for the words of the verse from Shir HaShirim.

This concept can be illustrated by way of analogy: Before a king enters a city, its inhabitants15 go out to greet him and receive him in the field. At that time, anyone who so desires may go out and greet him. He receives them all pleasantly and shows a smiling countenance to all.

Merciful God, merciful God, powerful God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in kindness and truth. Preserver of kindness for thousands of generations, forgiver of iniquity, willful sin and error, and Who cleanses.

– Exodus 34:6-7

the “13 Attributes” arouse divine mercy, the recitation of these alone is inadequate. Rather, we need to make sure that in action, our own lifestyles reflect these attributes as well.

For example, the Talmud says that if you are patient with others, then God will be patient with you. You can only demand that God employ all these attributes if you apply them in your own relationships.

Daily Goal

Small Acts of Kindness

Give a genuine compliment to somebody at least once a day.
Write down what you appreciate about another family member and pass it along.
Check in with someone who’s sick.
Ask if you can help someone who may be having a difficult time in life right now.
Lend your vehicle to take someone without one shopping for their necessities.
Hold the door open for the person behind you.
Make a card for someone special.
Deliver flowers anonymously to a hospital patient.
Ask a senior citizen about their life story and truly listen.
Give a hug to a loved one or friend.
Offer to pay another person’s food bill.
Lend a hand to someone doing hard work.
Donate to a homeless person, perhaps give them some food.
Leave a kind server a generous tip.
Let a person out from a side road who’s waiting to get into the main road.
Help another parent out with a stroller or carrying things.
Give someone a book that you no longer need.
Give your parents or grandparents a call just because.
Volunteer at a community event.