Rosh Hashanah will be here before we know it. It seems to always come early or late – never quite on time. Except that in truth, it always arrives exactly as scheduled: on the first day of the Hebrew month of Tishrei. If we are following the Jewish calendar, then we know that we are currently in the month of Elul, the month that precedes the High Holy Days with 29 days of contemplation, reflection, and preparation.

Like most things in life, we will get out of the High Holy Days what we put into them. This is what the month of Elul is for. It is time to prepare ourselves, time to find our spiritual center, time to consider the ways that we might like to change in the year ahead.

I’ve compiled here ten easy ways to prepare for the holy days. Notice: when we take the time to prepare, our High Holy Day experience can become richer, more authentic, and even more fulfilling.

1. Make An Intentional Plan for Prayer. Will you be attending in person, or virtually? If in-person, have you mapped the route to Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church? Have you figured out what time you’ll need to leave? If virtually, have you thought about how to make your home feel like a ‘sacred space?’ Where can you sit comfortably and free of mundane distractions?

2. Plan your menu. If Rosh Hashanah makes you think of honey cake, and Yom Kippur makes you wonder what kind of bagel you’ll have to break the fast – you aren’t alone. Food can connect us to our loved ones even when we aren’t together in space and time.

3. Arrange to take the day off from work. This year Rosh Hashanah falls on a Tuesday, and Yom Kippur falls on a Thursday. Don’t be caught off guard! Arrange to take the day off from your other responsibilities now so that you don’t have to scramble for childcare or work coverage on short notice.

4. Stock up on non-perishable items to bring to NourishPHX (formerly ICM). Our Haftarah on Yom Kippur reminds us that a fast day is not meaningful if it isn’t accompanied by action that will help to nurture the world around us. Start stocking up now on donations of non-perishable food to help those in need.

5. Start a ‘Gratitude List.’ Whenever you have a moment (while waiting for the host to start a zoom meeting, while waiting in the carpool line, while trying to fall asleep at night…) jot down a few moments when you have felt a sense of gratitude. Start the list now, in the month of Elul, and try to keep it going until the end of the Days of Awe.

6. Make plans for quality time with friends and family. It is customary to take some time during the month of Elul to ask forgiveness. However, this is difficult to do if we haven’t even had a phone call with family or met for a coffee with friends recently. Who in your life do you miss spending time with? Take this opportunity to set up a time to reconnect.

7. Make plans for quality time with yourself. Just like we need to make for others, we also need time alone. Schedule time just for you. Take some time with your own thoughts. Perhaps you think best on a long walk or run, while journaling, or in meditation. Prioritize this time to reflect and reconnect with yourself.

8. Immerse in the mikvah. It is traditional to immerse in the mikvah before the High Holy Days. The sacred waters help us mark time and transition. If this is a new experience for you, you can ask Rabbi Kahn, Rabbi Mason-Barkin or Stacy Rosenthal to be your mikvah guide – it would be our honor to teach you about this ancient tradition.

9. Listen to Cantor’s High Holy Day playlist. Music is such a fundamental way of connecting to our spiritual selves. Make sure to listen to the Cantor’s list of music to get you in the mood and ready for an impactful, reflective journey.

10. Read The Immortalists and/or watch Life As A House. This year during our Selichot shabbaton, your clergy will be drawing connections to these stories as a way of deepening our thinking around the themes of the High Holy Days. Join us!

This might be a daunting task. It might feel like you are too busy, or too tired – or even like your Jewish life is something you would rather do when you get to temple instead of spending time on at home. And yet. Perhaps this is the year that you are ready to challenge yourself to go deeper. To feel more. To make the High Holy Days a longer journey that begins now, in the month of Elul. L’shanah Tova Tikateivu – may this be the start of a year filled with sweetness and joy!