Hodesh (Month) Elul

Elul is the month that precedes Tishrei, it is the Month of Benevolence and of Apologies (hodesh rahamim ve slihot), it is the Month of Repentance (hodesh hazara be tshuva), it is the month for preparation for the "Days of Awe" (Yamim noraim) – the ten days between Rosh Hashana (Jewish New Year) and Yom Kippur (The Atonement Day).

Elul is the preparatory month for the Judgment, therefore:

Evey morning (except on Sabbath), at the end of the prayer, the shofar (ram's horn) is blown in order to remind us that Rosh Hashana is near.

The chapter "To David" (le David) is added to the prayer, twice a day. The Ashkenazim add it to shaharit (the Morning Prayer) and to minha (the Afternoon Prayer) while the Sephardi add it to shaharit and aravit (the Evening Prayer).

In the beginning, Selihot (apologies) – pieces of penitential prayers – had been recited every morning, half an hour before the sunrise. The Sephardi Jews recite longer Selihot, from the beginning of month Elul until Yom Kippur. The Ashkenazim Jews start on Sabbath (Saturday) night, the last Sabbath before Rosh Hashana until Yom Kippur (but there have to be at least four days of Selihot). Selihot are not being recited on Sabbath.