Elul: Why Is the King in the Field?

What if God came to meet you where you are, rather than waiting for you to come to the synagogue? The month of Elul, the final month of the Jewish year, is one of the most spiritually charged periods on the calendar. It is the month of preparation before Rosh Hashanah, and it carries a beautiful teaching about divine accessibility that can transform your approach to the High Holidays.

The King in the Field

The most famous teaching about Elul comes from a Chassidic parable. Normally, to see the king, you must travel to the capital, gain access to the palace, navigate layers of officials and guards, and finally be granted an audience in the throne room. But there are times when the king leaves the palace and travels through the countryside. When the king is in the field, anyone can approach. The farmer, the laborer, the merchant, anyone can come to the king without formality or protocol, and the king receives them all with a warm, welcoming countenance.

During Elul, God is the king in the field. The gates of heaven are especially open. Prayers are received with special favor. The opportunity for teshuvah (repentance and return) is at its most accessible. You do not need to be a scholar or a saint to take advantage of this time. You just need to show up.

Customs of Elul

Shofar blowing: The shofar is blown every morning during Elul (except on Shabbat and the day before Rosh Hashanah). This daily blast serves as a wake-up call, a reminder that the Days of Judgment are approaching and that now is the time for self-reflection.

Psalm 27: From the beginning of Elul through Hoshanah Rabbah, Psalm 27 is recited twice daily. This psalm expresses trust in God and longing for closeness: One thing I ask of God, that I seek: to dwell in the house of God all the days of my life.

Selichot: Penitential prayers are recited in the days leading up to Rosh Hashanah. Sephardic communities begin Selichot on the second day of Elul. Ashkenazic communities begin on the Saturday night before Rosh Hashanah (or the previous Saturday night if Rosh Hashanah falls early in the week).

Checking mezuzot and tefillin: Many people have their mezuzot and tefillin checked by a qualified scribe during Elul to ensure they are in proper condition.

Seeking forgiveness: It is customary during Elul to approach people you may have wronged during the year and ask for their forgiveness. Yom Kippur atones for sins between humans and God, but sins between people can only be forgiven by the person you wronged.

The Name Elul

The Hebrew letters of Elul (aleph-lamed-vav-lamed) are an acronym for Ani LeDodi VeDodi Li, meaning I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine, from the Song of Songs. This hints that Elul is a month of love and closeness between God and the Jewish people. The relationship is reciprocal: as we reach out to God, God reaches out to us.

Practical Ways to Use Elul

Take a few minutes each day for personal reflection. What went well this past year? What did not? Where do you want to grow? Begin the process of making amends with anyone you may have hurt. Increase your Torah learning, even just a few extra minutes a day. Give extra charity. Attend services more frequently if possible. Most importantly, have a real, honest conversation with yourself (and with God) about the kind of person you want to be in the coming year.

For more on the High Holidays, see our guides to Rosh Hashanah, Selichot, and the Ten Days of Repentance.