08/14/2026
As we welcome the month of Elul tonight, we are reminded of "ani l'dodi v'dodi li," the acronym of Elul that paints our relationship to God as one of a Dod, a beloved. This imagery, from Shir Hashirim, invites us to imagine God as our beloved: someone who we turn to, who we sometimes let down, but who ultimately we seek out again.
The start of Elul is also, according to most, the date that Moshe ascended Har Sinai to receive the second set of luchot. While the first set was shattered, the second set represents second chances, forgiveness, and commitment to trying again. It's a 40-day march that reminds us that we aren't perfect but that we are going to keep trying.
