Elul

Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch explains how Elul, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot guide us through awakening, teshuvah, renewal, and a return to purposeful living

Harav Reuven Elbaz teaches us a fundamental message about our Avodat Hashem.

How Slichot became a different expression of repentance in Ashkenazi, Sephardic, and Mizrahi Jewish communities

God does not schedule a “therapeutic hour” for us and check His clock because the next client is on his way

Renowned cantor Rabbi Moshe Habusha reflects on his decades alongside Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, the spiritual power of Selichot and Yom Kippur, and why he would choose the holiness of Jerusalem’s High Holidays over even the most prestigious musical stage

Elul and the Jewish practice of cheshbon nefesh remind us that recognizing what went wrong is only useful if we are willing to face it—and change.

Explore the deeper meaning of Elul through Kabbalah, from the letter yud and the month’s spiritual symbols to its connection with repentance, action, and closeness to Hashem.

Elul is not an invitation to arrive already perfect. It is a month of closeness, teshuvah, and the powerful reminder that Hashem is waiting for us to simply come back.

When should Selichot be recited, and what if there is no minyan? learn the key laws and customs of Selichot as Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur approach.

Selichot doesn’t have to be all or nothing. learn why even a few sincere prayers and a single thought of teshuvah can carry tremendous spiritual value.

As Elul begins, Parashat Shoftim reminds us to look inward, think independently, and reconnect with the unique goodness Hashem placed within each of us.

What does it really mean to judge someone favorably? Rabbi Aryeh Levin’s powerful example offers an unforgettable lesson for Elul and Rosh Hashanah.

A moving story about Queen Elizabeth reveals a timeless lesson for Elul: the greatest opportunities for connection are often found in the simplest everyday moments

Discover why the Shabbat before Elul was revered by the greatest Jewish sages and how its blessing prepares us for Rosh Hashanah and the new year

Discover how this week's Torah reading reveals the four ways the evil inclination works within us and how to prepare for spiritual growth during the month of Elul

Elul is Judaism's month of return — 29 days of shofar blasts, Psalm 27, Selichot, and quiet soul-accounting that turn the summer's end into the doorway of the Days of Awe.

Discover the profound significance of reciting Psalm 27 throughout Elul and the High Holidays and its connections to the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy, repentance, and prayer

Discover why this sacred month is the ideal time to draw closer to God through repentance, prayer, and divine mercy

An inspiring insight into Rosh Chodesh Elul, Divine mercy, and the spiritual journey of repentance, renewal, and closeness to God

Discover how finding the good within yourself leads to joy, heartfelt prayer, and sincere repentance born from love rather than fear