I love Elul, the month preceding the High Holy Days. The sages teach that God is nearby and accessible. The Holy One’s arms are open, ready to receive every sincere person back into a loving embrace.
T’SHUVAH
Tshuvah’s root (shav) which translates to “return”. It is a call to return to our true nature, our best selves. T’shuvah is always availabe to all individuals, even those who feel distant from a right path. It is one of the most meaningful aspects of Jewish life. Even with the best of intentions, it is easy to get distracted and drift away from true goodness. Fortunately, the local cosmos supports Tshuvah, since the Elul and holidays arrive near the Autumnal Equinox.
For example, this year, the Autumn Equinox will occur on September 22, 2025, at 11:19 AM PT. Rosh Hashanah begins after sunset on that same day. The new year brings a state of maximum balance to the local cosmos as day and night come into approximate balance. The balance has been approaching this point and stays close for a period.
This is important because this balance provides stability, supporting the deep work of T’shuvah, a return to your best self.
SEFER YETZIRAH
Sefer Yetzirah teaches that when the letter Yud was made sovereign and linked to Keter, the Light of the Infinite shone through it, forming Virgo in space, Elul in time, and the left hand in Spirit (Gra). The image of Virgo (Betoolah) in Elul is significant. The Holy Bnay Yisaskhar points to the proverb, “When you find a woman, you find goodness.”
In the month of Elul, Virgo represents the woman ruling the heavens. Her presence helps us differentiate between what is genuinely good and what merely appears to be good. This figure in the heavens is our Mother in Heaven, known as Eema Elaah or Binah, the S’firah. She embodies patience, love, and unwavering faith that we will make the right choices. Our Mother in Heaven discerns the modulation of Divine Light that enters creation and the cosmos. She offers comfort, safety, and gentle awareness of the adjustments necessary to manifest what is truly good and sustainable.
Here is a link to the text from Bnai Yisaskhar with an English translation.
