Before we crown God as King on Rosh HaShana, there is a month in which He approaches us, and we approach Him. In the month of Elul, God receives everyone with joy and allows everyone to appear before Him.

Elul is the time of the revelation of the thirteen attributes of mercy. To understand why these are regular weekdays and not holidays…it may be understood with an allegory of a king. Before he arrives in a city, the people of the city go out toward him and greet him in the field. Anyone who wishes is permitted to approach, and he receives everyone warmly and with a smile. When he enters the city, they follow him. Afterward, when he enters into his royal court, no one may enter unless granted permission to do so, and even this pertains only to high-ranking people and distinguished individuals. This is the idea by way of analogy: In the month of Elul we go out to greet the shining face of God in the field [not on a holiday when He is in His royal court]. (Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, Likutei Torah, Re’eh 32:2)

Further reading: For special customs of the month of Elul, see A Concise Guide to Halakha, p. 373.

Sweetness of Months

[Tishrei:] Repentance and good actions,

Shatter and refute the statements of those who find liable,

Refined and cleaned from filthy sins,

They will confess their sins, past deeds are forgotten.

[Marheshvan:] Heat has passed from the lands,

The joy of nature has ceased now,

In our land for rain and dew

We pray and beseech fervidly.

[Kislev:] The enemy’s chains are broken; they overcame him,

His oppression they removed, his yoke they broke,

The priests of God fought like lions,

And in God’s Temple, they set up the lamps.

[Tevet:] The recording elders hid the pearls

In the Greek translation they refrained from revealing,

The Torah of God they concealed, showing just the exterior.

[Shevat:] Rejoice, trees of the forest, Shout out creation!

At the consecration of the festival of the new year for trees,

Refreshed nature returns to life.

[Adar:] A sign and wonder are the days of Purim for us,

The words of the megilla [the book of Esther] are preserved forever,

God’s mercy covers us like eagles’ wings.

[Nisan:] He showed wonders to His nation,

His hand crushed the enemy; they knew His wrath;

Mighty horses he sent down to the deep;

The waters stood; these passed through and those drowned there.

[Iyar:] Merriment has ceased; in the days of the omer it stopped;

Painful is the tragedy of Rabbi Akiva’s students, descended to the grave.

The sadness passes on the eighteenth, with the hilula [celebration] of Rabbi Shimon,

First among masters of secrets, the pillar of fire and cloud.

[Sivan:] The book of books was given with sound and lightning,

Yeshurun ascended to become a kingdom of priests, to the heights of heaven.

The eternal covenant will never be abandoned.

The covenant made with Israel, who are armed with His Torah.

[Tamuz:] A graven image was erected in the Temple;

The enemy camp spread around the city;

In his criminal rage, he avenged with fury;

The daily sacrifice he cancelled, destroyed the beloved.

[Av:] National mourning wraps every Jew in sadness;

Weeping and long lament for two thousand years; it is endless.

[Elul:] Last of the months, end of the year,

The heart of the Jew is shaken; he will find time despite his troubles;

In his soul, the voice of God calls out a holy roar:

Repent! Act righteously and come into the gates of Torah.