The BiG Story

from his creatures and grants them sal-
vation.
Sephardi Jews begin to recite Seli-
chot (penitential prayers) on Rosh
Chodesh Elul. Ashkenazi Jews start
Selichot on the Sunday before Rosh
HaShana (unless Rosh HaShana
begins on Monday or Tuesday, in
which case Selichot are begun on
the Sunday of the week before).
On Rosh Chodesh Elul, many
Jews also visit the graves of family
members. This serves as a reminder
of our own mortality and makes us
think of the deeds of those who
went before us and from which we
learn. Some ask the souls of the
departed to intercede with the
Almighty on behalf of the living.
In a mystical sense, it is believed
that during the 40-day period from
the month of Elul through Yom Kip-
pur, God's presence can be per-
ceived more readily than at any
other time of the year, and that
God is somehow "closer" to human-
ity. Relying on the verse in Isaiah
55:6, "Seek the Lord while He may
be found. Call upon Him while He
is near," the mystics place great
emphasis upon repentance and
introspection during Elul.
The Hebrew spelling of Elul has
given rise to a homiletic interpreta-
tion of the month's name. The
Hebrew letters are aleph, lamed,
vav, lamed. In allusion to Shir
HaShirim (Song of Songs 6:3), Elul
is explained as an acronym of the
phrase, Ani L'dodi V'dodi Li ("I am
my beloved and my beloved is
mine"). In this case, the verse refers
to the loving relationship between
God and the Jewish people.
Which month of the year is Elul?
That depends on when you begin
counting. The Torah refers to Nisan
as the first month of the year (the
month in which Passover occurs).
Thus, Elul is the sixth month. But if
we regard Tishrei as the first month -
(in which we celebrate Rosh
HaShana), then Elul is the last
month of the year. fl

8/6
1999

128 Detroit Jewish News

School Days, School Days

Happy children
everywhere are
just waiting for
school to start!
Meanwhile,
here are a few
fun ideas to
help parents ge
ready for the
big day.

Elizabeth Applebaum
AppleTree Editor

1. POCKET TREASURES

Young children — and even
older, wise ones (ignore that
seemingly brilliant confidence) —
may feel a little hesitant about

starting a new school year. One
way to make it easier: leave a
tiny treat and a loving note inside
a child's shirt or jacket pocket. Tie
a ribbon around a favorite candy
bar, a tiny doll or a mu c h-wanted
paperback.

2. PICTURE THIS

Have the child record the First Day
for posterity. When your daughter
wakes up, have a new disposable
camera waiting on her nightstand.
Let her take pictures as she selects
what she'll wear, fills her backpack,
eats her breakfast, meets her
teacher, and sees that her best
friend from last year is in her class
this year.

3. MAKE 'EM LAUGH

Even a nerve-wracking experience
like the first day of school can be
material for laughter — if you have
a few friends. Cut out pictures of
favorite TV characters or comic
heroes and affix them to index
cards. Draw a cartoon balloon for
each, along with a confidence-
building, funny message: "Rachel,
after that great job you did at
school today, I can't wait to see
you get through your mother's
spinach casserole tonight!" or "You
looked great today! Gee, what if
your school uniform looked like
Superman's?"

4. MYSTERY LUNCH

Prepare a quick adventure in your
son's lunch box. Leave a series of
fun clues he must unravel before he
can eat. You can use short rhymes,
leaving one word or phrase blank:
("It's nice to say 'thank you'/It's nice
to say 'please'/For your opening
course/There's a sandwich with
[cheese]"). Or, provide drawings
or fun hints.

5. BOOK 'EM

You can help your child
create his own book-
plates to use in
books and note-
books. Just visit
your favorite
office-supply store
and see their vari-
ety of blank
mailing
labels. Let
your son
or daugh-
ter design
a proto-
type of
his new
book-
plate,

then the -wo of you can make as
many as he or she needs.

6. TIE A YELLOW, OR A
BLUE, OR A RED RIBBON,/

Make the first day of school a rea l~
celebration by wrapping a ribbon
across your son's door, to discover
when he wakes up. You can write
• "HAPPY FIRST DAY!" and begin the
day with fake champagne (soda
water mixed with grape or any
other fruit juice).

7. YOUR DAYS
ARE NUMBERED

Count down the days until school
starts — a different way each time.
If it's still a few weeks away, try
something easy like dropping 21
dimes into a jar (which the child
can spend the first week of school).
Other ideas for big-number days: a
pack with 15 pieces of gum, a
comic book with 12 pages, a CD
with nine songs.
Ideas as the
days get
closer: a
new shirt
with seven
beautiful but-
tons, a three-
course meal
at a