Ani Ledodi Vedodi Li: (lit. “I am for my Beloved, and my Beloved is for me” [Song of Songs 6:3]), an acronym for the Jewish month of Elul, referring to the particular closeness between G‑d and His people during this month.

Elul, Month of: the final Jewish month before the Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashanah), typically during late summer or early fall. A time devoted to soul-searching in preparation for the High Holidays.

Selichot: (a) penitential prayers read daily, before dawn, during the week of the Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashanah). If Rosh Hashanah falls early in the week and there are less than four days preceding it, the prayers are recited the entire preceding week as well. Many have the custom to recite them during the Days of Repentance (Aseret Yemei Teshuva) as well, and Sephardic custom is to recite Selichot for the entire month; (b) the days during which these prayers are recited.

Shofar: a ram’s horn blown daily during the Jewish month of Elul (not including the last day), on the Jewish New Year (Rosh HaShanah), and at the end of the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur).

Teshuvah: (lit. “return”); repentance, the return to the correct path of observance of G‑d’s commandments.