Ellul in short – Ask the Rabbi
Q. Is it true that there is a message in the letters of Ellul, the name of this month? What about other months?
A. Ellul – alef-lamed-vav-lamed – is Ani l’dodi v’dodi li, “I am my Beloved’s (i.e. God) and my Beloved is mine” or Ish l’re’ehu umattanot la’evyonim, “Everyone (should turn) to their fellow and give gifts to the poor”.
The same method can apply to other months too. Tishri, for example – tav-shin-resh-yud, is:
• Tamim tih’yeh im HaShem E-lohecha, “Be wholehearted with the Lord your God” (Deut. 18:13),
• Shiviti HaShem l’negdi tamid, “I set the Lord always before me” (Ps. 16:8),
• Rosh d’var’cha emet, “The head of Your word is truth” (Ps. 119:160), and
• Yissa HaShem panav elecha, “May God turn His face towards you” (Num. 6:26).
