The Elul Acronym You Never Heard Of

We all know of an E-L-U-L acronym, a Biblical verse that has words beginning with א-ל-ו-ל that can teach lessons as we utilize Elul as a month of preparation for the High Holidays.

The most famous one is: ני לדודי ודודי ליא– I am for my beloved, and my beloved is for me. (Shir Hashirim 6:3)  Elul is a time for recapturing a close, loving relationship with God.

A lesser known acronym is: יש לרעהו ומתנות לאביוניםא– One man (gives a gift) to another and charity for the poor. (Esther 9:22)   While the verse speaks about the obligations of Purim, the verse teaches us the importance of establishing and strengthening giving and generous relationships with others. Our High Holiday preparations must focus on people and not just on God.

Here’s one I bet nobody has heard of.  (I only encountered it a few years ago.) 

In connection with the cities of refuge set aside for those who kill unintentionally, the Torah teaches (Shemot 21:13):

וַאֲשֶׁר לֹא צָדָה וְהָאֱ-לֹהִים אִנָּה לְיָדוֹ וְשַׂמְתִּי לְךָ מָקוֹם אֲשֶׁר יָנוּס שָׁמָּה׃

If the person did not kill by design, but it came about by an act of God, I will assign you a place to which he can flee.

Rabbi Isaac Luria, the Arizal, notes that the words in the middle of this verse begin with the letters of Elul.  Accordingly, this verse provides guidance for how we should approach Elul.

What does fleeing to a city of refuge have to do with Elul?

The city of refuge is a place for someone who flees his victim's relatives.  The person goes to seek protection, shelter and safety because of their transgression.  Similarly, one who sins seeks refuge with God needs a place to find a way to repair the past and grow for the future.

The month of Elul is meant to serve as a reminder that we need to flee.  It is time to seek refuge from whatever mistakes we made as well as identify those areas we seek to improve.  We need a place to go to work all this out.  That place is the month of Elul.

In addition to the lofty themes of Elul that inspire us, the month is also a time to confront some of the uncomfortable realities of the past year.  Even the righteous among us can do better.  Elul is a time for creative disequilibrium, where we can use our discomfort to seek out a path towards improvement and growth.

We know all too well from disequilibrium during these past months.  Now, it’s time to get creative.  Elul is a refuge, a time to find security and stability, and a time to find new ways to reconnect with our own souls, with God, and with each other.