Tishrei in Ten:

2. Elul

You're coming in for landing. Home base is sending out a clear, powerful signal. It's Elul, the last month of the Jewish year and to amplify that signal, we blow the shofar every morning. The month reaches a climax with the days of selichot when Jews gather in the early morning hours for extra, intensified prayers.

You need to establish a connection with that signal. How? Here are some suggestions:

• Join a Torah study group.
• Grab some more mitzvahs—like mezuzahs, tefillin, Shabbat candles, charity and volunteering.
• It’sa good time to make an inventory: what needs repair—and what needs to be thrown out of your spaceship...If you already have mezuzahs and tefillin, it's customary to have them checked by a scribe at this time.
• It's also a good time to make an inventory: What went right, what went wrong, what new habits need to be installed, what needs repair—and what needs to be thrown out of your spaceship. In fact, it doesn't hurt to start on some of those alterations right away.

The Details:

The shofar is blown every morning except for the eve of Rosh Hashanah. The first selichot are said on Saturday night shortly before Rosh Hashanah after midnight, and continue every morning until Rosh Hashanah.

Click here for more about Elul.