What are the jewish customs for the month of Elul?

The month of Elul (אלול) is the final month of the Jewish year and serves as a 40-day period of preparation and teshuva (repentance) leading up to Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. It is a time of heightened spiritual awareness, self-examination, and return to God, marked by several distinctive customs practiced by both Sephardic and Ashkenazic communities.

Key Takeaways

Elul is a 40-day period of teshuva beginning on Rosh Chodesh Elul and ending on Yom Kippur.
Sephardim begin reciting Selichot (penitential prayers) from Rosh Chodesh Elul; Ashkenazim begin the Saturday night before Rosh Hashanah (at least 4 days prior).
The shofar (ram's horn) is blown every weekday morning throughout Elul to awaken the heart to repentance.
The name "Elul" is traditionally read as an acronym for Ani L'Dodi V'Dodi Li — "I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine" — symbolizing the intimate relationship between Israel and God in this season.
Special psalms, increased Torah study, and cheshbon hanefesh (spiritual self-accounting) are hallmarks of the month.

The Spiritual Character of Elul

The Baal Shem Tov and later Chassidic masters taught that the name "Elul" (אלול) is an acronym for the verse in Song of Songs:

אֲנִי לְדוֹדִי וְדוֹדִי לִי (Ani l'dodi v'dodi li) "I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine" [Song of Songs 6:3]

This teaches that Elul is a time of special closeness (kiruv) between Israel and the Divine — like lovers reuniting. God is described as being especially accessible during this month, "in the field" so to speak, approachable by all who seek Him.

The 40 days from Rosh Chodesh Elul through Yom Kippur mirror the 40 days Moses spent on Sinai receiving the second set of tablets after the sin of the Golden Calf [Exodus 34:4-9], culminating in God's proclamation of the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy:

יְהֹוָה יְהֹוָה אֵל רַחוּם וְחַנּוּן אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם וְרַב־חֶסֶד וֶאֱמֶת "The LORD, the LORD, God compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in kindness and truth." [Exodus 34:6]

These attributes form the backbone of the Selichot prayers recited throughout this period.

Major Customs of Elul

1. 🔔 Blowing the Shofar

The Shulchan Arukh (Orach Chayim 581:1) records the custom of blowing the shofar after Shacharit (morning prayers) every day of Elul:

"The custom of Ashkenazim is to begin sounding [the shofar] after the morning prayer from Rosh Chodesh [Elul] onward." [Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chayim 581:1]

Some communities also blow the shofar after Maariv (evening prayers). The blowing ceases on Erev Rosh Hashanah so that the shofar on Rosh Hashanah itself stands apart and is heard with fresh attention.

2. 🙏 Selichot — Penitential Prayers

Sephardic custom: Begin reciting Selichot from Rosh Chodesh Elul onward, continuing through Yom Kippur. This practice is recorded in the Shulchan Arukh (OC 581:1) and elaborated by Rav Ovadia Yosef in Chazon Ovadia — Yamim Noraim [Chazon Ovadia, Yamim Noraim].

Ashkenazic custom: Begin Selichot on the Saturday night before Rosh Hashanah, provided there are at least 4 days of Selichot before the New Year. If Rosh Hashanah falls on Monday or Tuesday, Selichot begin the Saturday night of the preceding week [Shulchan Arukh, OC 581:1, Rema].

Selichot are typically recited in the early morning hours (Ashmoret — the pre-dawn watch), considered an et ratzon (favorable time) for prayer.

3. 📖 Daily Recitation of Psalm 27

The custom — widespread in both Sephardic and Ashkenazic communities — is to recite Psalm 27 (L'David Hashem Ori) twice daily (morning and evening) from Rosh Chodesh Elul through Hoshana Rabbah (the 21st of Tishrei). The psalm speaks of seeking God's face and shelter:

"One thing I ask of the LORD, that shall I seek: to dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life." [Psalms 27:4]

4. 💌 Sending Shana Tova Greetings

It is an ancient custom to send blessings and well-wishes to friends and family during Elul, wishing them a good and sweet new year. This is rooted in the idea of chesed (kindness) being part of the teshuva process.

5. 📋 Cheshbon HaNefesh — Spiritual Self-Accounting

The month of Elul is dedicated to introspection — reviewing one's deeds of the past year, seeking forgiveness from those one has wronged (bein adam l'chaveiro — between a person and their fellow), and resolving to improve. This is emphasized by Rav Moshe Chaim Luzzatto (Ramchal) in Mesilat Yesharim and by Rav Menachem Mendel Lefin in his classic work Cheshbon HaNefesh.

The verse from Deuteronomy captures the hope of this season:

וּמָל יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ אֶת־לְבָבְךָ — "And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart... to love the LORD your God with all your heart and all your soul, for the sake of your life." [Deuteronomy 30:6]

6. 📜 Torah & Mussar Study

Many communities increase their study of Mussar (ethical) literature and halacha related to teshuva during Elul. The works of Rambam (Laws of Repentance, Hilchot Teshuva) and Rabbeinu Yonah's Sha'arei Teshuva (Gates of Repentance) are particularly popular.

7. ✅ Checking Mezuzot and Tefillin

It is a widespread custom to check one's mezuzot and tefillin during Elul to ensure they are kosher — both as a practical mitzvah and as a spiritual act of renewal before the new year.

For personal guidance on specific practices in your community, consult your local rabbi or posek.