In the month of Elul, which proceeds the new year of Rosh Hashanah, we prepare ourselves spiritually for the meeting of heaven and earth.

We need to use this time wisely to take advantage of readying our minds and spirits so that the Days of Awe are uplifting and life-changing.

It is precisely during this month that we add special prayers to our services, sound the shofar and take a personal inventory of who we have become in our life thus far.

What follows are some invitations to learn and appreciate the power and depth of these momentous days.

The first audio clips are from our friend and member of Beth Shalom Synagogue Tammy Bergman.