Prayers for Elul

Elul A Time to ReflectHere’s a list of prayers for the month of Elul divided into categories: breaking free, living in holiness, time and confession. Here are additional links to prayers for Rosh Hashana, another one of prayers for Yom Kippur and one more for Sukkot. Here’s a link to yizkor and memorial prayers.

Breaking Free

Three meditations that ask why we stay chained to our sorrows, then challenge us to see life as a sacred journey:

Living in Holiness

These prayers examine the art of living a life of holiness, focusing on attributes (grace, humility) and practices (listening for G-d’s voice, doing G-d’s will):

  • Is This the Fast? – An introspection based on Isaiah 58:6-7.
  • For Grace – A meditation about living a life of grace by offering grace to others.
  • For Humility – For living a life of humility in service to G-d, ourselves and others.
  • To Do Your Will – To ask for the guidance to do G-d’s will in humility and love.
  • To Hear Your Voice – G-d’s voice is available to all who choose to listen.
  • The Path of Righteousness – The path is paved with questions.
  • For Compassion – About seeing ourselves in everyone.
  • On Making a Mistake – To elevate a mistake into an act of love.
  • To Ask – On asking for G-d’s guidance and support to live a life of righteousness.

Time

Prayers about the holiness of time in general and about the sanctity of this period in the Jewish calendar:

  • Rhythms – A meditation on the contrasting rhythms of life.
  • The Season of Healing – This is a season of healing our souls and our lives.
  • The Season of Return – This is a season of return to G-d, repentance and t’shuva.
  • History – A celebration of the gifts of history and memory.

Confession

Here are meditations on confession (vidui). Although they were written for use on Yom Kippur, they are appropriate as Elul meditations to prepare for vidui:

Click here for the full list of prayers for the Yamim Noraim. Here’s a list of prayers for Rosh Hashana, another one of prayers for Yom Kippur and one more for Sukkot. Here’s a link to yizkor and memorial prayers.

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