Chodesh Elul is a bridge between the old year and the new. Formed by the Hebrew letter Yod ( י ), the first letter of the Divine Name, the shape of the Yod implies action, the Tikkun of Chodesh Elul.
Mercury/Kochav, the planetary ruler of Elul, is associated with the Mazal of Virgo and the intellect. Virgo scrutinizes, analyzes, and separates the useful from the useless. This is Binah: the wisdom of applied discernment. In Hebrew gematria, Binah and Elul have the same numerical value (67). Changing our minds changes our direction and our actions change. That is Teshuva. The tikkun of Chodesh Elul is purposeful action directed by discerning thought.
During Elul, the shofar directs and stimulates our thoughts toward our relationship with the Divine and our relationships with one another. This Chodesh Elul features two eclipses, both serving that purpose.
Hearts break open at the Full “Super” Moon/Partial Lunar Eclipse in Pisces on September 17, awakening compassion and empathy. The New Moon/Annular Solar Eclipse in Libra on October 2, Erev Rosh HaShanah, spurs us to reciprocity. There’s no question that our Creator gives goodness to us immeasurably more than we can ever return, proportionally or otherwise. What we can do is give goodness back by giving to others.
As this Jewish Year of 5784 – Tav Shin Pei Dalet – winds down, we see how the “Gimel” Year of 5783 and the “Dalet” Year of 5784 played out. Gimel Daled means "give generously to the poor" (Gemol means to give generously; dalim are poor people). Because we did not give to each other in 5783, our spiritual poverty was exposed during 5784. May this Chodesh Elul be a tikkun for the entire difficult and painful year of 5784, and may our souls awake to purposeful action directed by discerning thought.
