ELUL. - Sixth month (counting from nīšān) of the Hebrew calendar, of 29 days (Aug.-Sept.). The name derives from the Assyrian ulūlu. The modern Arabic names in Palestine are: among Christians ölün, élül; the Muslim Arabs: tahr eş-şalib; the Bedouins: auzval şafar. According to the Mišnāh (Rō'š haš-šānāh, I, 1) "the first of 'E. is the new year for the tithing of animals." The Geonim recall the Mesopotamian custom of sowing legumes in a basket filled with earth on the 7th and 14th of 'E.; the basket was thrown into the water on the eve of the new year (1 Tishri) as a substitution sacrifice (Rašī a Sabbāth, 81 b). On the 20th of 'E. the deadline falls for the official delivery of firewood to the temple.
From the 2nd of 'E. until the last day (29), excluding however the 29th, the eve of the new year, the shofar (tīphār) is blown in the synagogue. After the morning and evening prayer, Psalm 27 is recited. During the night following the last Saturday before the new year (at midnight or before dawn) the penitential prayers (sālibāth) are recited. On the eve of the new year the absolution of vows (hattorath nīdhārīm) unfulfilled through forgetfulness takes place. If the new year falls on Thursday or Friday (so that one is forced to cook food for the Sabbath, a day on which such work is forbidden), the rite of the "mixing of cooked foods" (vērḥbi tabhālīn) is performed on the eve of the feast (29th of 'E.).
Bibliography
Eugenio Zolli