For citizens of the modern Western world, Jewish or not, the first week of September can feel like quite a slap in the face compared to the easy-breezy months of July and August. All summer, it was somewhat acceptable to leave emails and WhatsApp unopened for a week or two. But now — first week of September — an unread email equals missed deadlines, disappointing grades, angry colleagues, forest fires, new pandemics, the collapse of civilization..
Indeed, missing an email becomes a very serious thing in the first week of September. But what benefit is being of Jewish descent if it’s not being able to switch perspective, or perhaps more tangibly, just switch calendars?
You see, according to the Jewish calendar, it’s not the first week of September at all. It’s the start of Elul—the final month, a time for self-reflection, reconciliation, maybe even a touch of atonement. With Rosh Hashanah just around the corner and the promise of fresh beginnings, now is the moment to look back at the lessons of the past year.
But how is a Jewish citizen of the modern Western society supposed to do all this introspection? And what if your student flat doesn’t have the space for a shofar to blast every morning as your reminder for repentance?
Maybe, to start fresh and be ready for the first week of September, it’s enough to keep it small. Sure, you can’t ignore your emails for two weeks anymore. But you can let them wait until after breakfast, after your coffee or tea, after you’ve taken a moment to think about what you want to improve this year — which parts of yourself and others deserve more attention, and which parts you’re ready to let go of.
And if you miss a deadline or a call, don’t worry. Most of us aren’t single-handedly stopping forest fires or pandemics in our daily lives anyway.
The point I´m trying to make here is that, however scary it may seem, the first week of September can be a chance to reset, reflect, and begin again — as Elul invites us to do. You might even enjoy stepping back into the rhythm again. Heck, you might run into some people you haven´t seen all summer. Perhaps you can finally pick up that project that’s been gathering dust while you were busy being the easy-breezy version of yourself..
These final three weeks running up to the first day of Tishrei can also be the time to reconnect with the community. I mean, why not? Chabad on Campus is quite welcoming (so I´ve heard). Maybe someone across the table from you at Shabbat will have some interesting insights on where to find the nearest pocket-sized shofar.
Definition List
Elul (אֱלוּל) — The last month of the Jewish calendar year, leading up to the High Holidays. Traditionally seen as a time for self-reflection, reconciliation, and preparing spiritually for the new year.
Rosh Hashanah (ראש השנה) — Literally “Head of the Year.” The Jewish New Year, usually in September. It marks the beginning of the High Holidays, a time of renewal, prayer, and new beginnings.
Shofar (שׁוֹפָר) — A ram’s horn, traditionally blown during Elul and on Rosh Hashanah. Its sound is a spiritual “wake-up call” to reflect, repent, and return to what matters.
Tishrei (תִּשְׁרֵי) — The first month of the Jewish calendar year (following Elul). It contains many major holidays: Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and Simchat Torah.
Shabbat (שַׁבָּת) — The Jewish Sabbath, observed from Friday evening to Saturday evening. A day of rest, reflection, and community.
About the writer Hi, I’m Ruth. Once a week, I sit down to write a column about being Jewish, modern, young, and eager to learn. Some weeks, I might invite someone for a talk. Other weeks, I might dive into research, introspection, or just find some other way to write something meaningful for people like me — trying to enjoy being Jewish, modern, young, and eager to learn.
Hope to see you here often!
