This post is about the Jewish month of Elul as it relates to The Chazak Plan: A 12 Month Journey to Spiritual Strength.
Rosh Chodesh Elul begins Wednesday night, the 19th of August and lasts for two days.
Elul is the time of year we take stock of our lives and prepare for the High Holidays. Most of us have at least one area in which we struggle; perhaps it is being ethical in business, being moral, being charitable and kind, refraining from hurting others, or some other area. Correcting our key flaw(s) is a major part of our life’s mission and why God put us in this world.
Pick one area on which to focus and choose a manageable change you will make on a daily or weekly basis; input this change into your calendar or checklist. If possible, speak to your rabbi or spiritual mentor for guidance. The focus on repentance continues into next month until after Yom Kippur.
During the month of Elul it is customary to study works on ethical development. One classic is Duties of the Heart by Rabbi Bachya ibn Pekuda. In the third chapter of The Gate of Introspection, there is a list of 30 fundamental ideas to be aware of. Aim to study one idea a day and finish it in time for Rosh Hashanah. A free version with an English translation is available on Sefaria by clicking here.
As the High Holidays involve reciting many prayers, for suggestions on how to enhance your prayers, see, “How to Unlock the Hidden Power of Prayer.”
Questions for the month:
“Which area do I struggle with that I’m motivated to address this Elul?”
“What is a manageable commitment I will make?
“Is it clear to me what area to focus on and how to repent (if necessary)? If it is not clear, who can I speak to for guidance?”
Take care and may God grant us success in the coming month,
Yaakov
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