by Aaron Poris, Senior Associate, Israel & Overseas
Ancient Babylonian Harvests, Spiritual Returns, and Messages of Love
For Jews, the month before Rosh Hashanah is a time when the shofar begins to sound, Selichot enter the picture, and attention turns toward reflection, repentance, and the coming Days of Awe.
But there is a fascinating surprise hidden in the month’s name itself.
The word is Elul (אלול). Despite being one of the most familiar names in the Jewish calendar, Elul is not originally a Hebrew word.
The Babylonian Connection
Elul is derived from the ancient Babylonian/Akkadian month Elūlu, which was associated with the harvest season. Like the names of several other Hebrew months, the name entered Jewish usage during the Babylonian exile and remained part of the Jewish calendar.
That said, the rabbis of old found a beautiful Hebrew meaning hidden in the four letters of Elul, connecting it as an acronym to the famous verse from King Solomon’s Song of Songs:
Ani le-dodi ve-dodi li
אני לדודי ודודי לי
“I am for my beloved, and my beloved is for me.”
So when you hear “Elul” this year, remember that behind those four Hebrew letters lies an ancient journey, from the fields of Mesopotamia to the inner landscape of the Jewish soul.
