Rabbi Alan Lew (may his memory be for a blessing) wrote an extraordinary book about the approaching High Holidays.  Entitled: "This is Real and You are Totally Unprepared" the volume moves from my book case to my desk as we enter this month that precedes the High Holidays.  His book is part of my "survival kit" for the days ahead.

The High Holidays are real- and there is nothing any of us can do to stop them.  As a part of the passage of time, the calendar continues its progression from one month to the next- each month peeling off the calendar as if in some 1930's black and white movie.

In some ways entering Elul from the current month Av, is much more difficult than progressing from Elul to Tishrei.  Elul commences in those last few weeks of summer when "back to school sales" demand we buy new pencil cases and notebooks and summer's last harvests of sweet corn, peaches and nectarines and bold, red tomatoes grace the markets.  To be totally candid, I'm much more interested in eating a plate of sliced fresh off-the-vine tomatoes sprinkled with coarse salt, chopped basil and olive oil than I am in preparing for that desperate slide into Rosh HaShanah.

We're never ready for Elul- but on Thursday.  The move from elul to Tishrei (the month of the High Holidays) has none of the late summer and back to school distractions.  Our tradition also inserts reminders into our daily routines to remind us that the Yamim Noraim are fast approaching.

In Elul, we begin the blowing of the shofar.  Unlike the high holidays,  when the shofar is sounded with great ceremony and blessing, the Elul tekiah just appears at the end of services.  Stripped of the customary blessings and pronouncement, the shofar's wail  is that much more unexpected.  There is a starkness to the Elul shofar calls as if we are taken by surprise.

Psalm 27 is recited during Elul.  Verse four says, "One thing I ask of Adonai, only that do I seek: to live in the house of Adonai all the days of my life…"  This psalm acts as a textual preface to the severity of the days ahead.  The sentiment of Psalm 27 will be echoed in the words of our machzor when we ask "who will live and who will die."  We will pray to be remembered in the metaphorical Book of Life and to live to celebrate Rosh HaShanah yet another year.

In Jewish numerology or gematria, the word Elul equals the number 67- which is also the number for the Hebrew word "binah"- or understanding.  Elul provides with a month to gain understanding into our own lives, the lives of those around us and try to figure out how to improve on last year.

Yes- this is all real and we are all totally unprepared for what comes ahead in just another month.  But the preparation through self reflection, the wisdom of our ancient texts and the aural reminder of the shofar can help to ease us into the most "awe" inspired moments of our entire calendar.

As we enter Elul, may we all find a moment to prepare.