Elul – Looking Inside
Written by Nalini Ibragimov – Rosh Chodesh Elul-
I had the privilege of attending two weddings last night. There is nothing more magnificent than a Jewish wedding. There is no event more special, or more celebratory. The hall is adorned with flowers and candles. There is live, soulful music with dancing to boot. The food is delicious and in abundance. We dress in our finest attire. It’s magical.
Parents, friends, and communities go to great lengths to ensure that a wedding is beautiful. For some, it may seem overwhelming and unnecessary. But in Jewish life, this is our greatest moment. This is the climactic point where two half-souls come together as one. A wedding is a celebration of the spiritual phenomenon and reality of unity. And we want that internal reality to be expressed outwardly. The majestic nature of this spiritual phenomenon must be matched by the external celebration.
There is an interesting custom that is brought down in Jewish law to be done in the month of Elul. Our Rabbis tell us that one should check his mezuzot and tefillin during this time. We want to make sure that the letters did not become worn, or erased. Even though everything may look good on the outside, we want to ensure that it is true for the inside parchment. My husband shared an insight with me that speaks to the concept of a wedding as well.
Elul is a time for introspection. It is a time when we step back, take a deep look at ourselves and try to envision the next iteration. Everything may look good on the outside, but we want to look deeply and examine which areas need tender love and care, more attention, some adjustments, and improvements. Elul is a time when we want the external appearance of everything looking good, to match the internal reality of what is actually happening. We are not looking for perfection. The inner aspirations of an individual define a person more than anything else. Yet, we want to ensure that we are taking steps towards the manifestation of those yearnings. Perhaps, this is exactly what we are meant to be occupied with during this time. Elul is the period of courtship between the Almighty and the Jewish people. The first step in productive dating is self-awareness and understanding. Before a person can be in a relationship with another, one first must uncover the internal mysteries of oneself. Only then can he begin to create emotional closeness and bonding in order to forge a marriage. Before we take those steps, we want to ensure that what we present on the outside is truly a manifestation of our deepest self on the inside.
Wishing each of you a beautiful Elul, on the inside and the outside. Chodesh Tov 