
RECITING PSALM 27 FROM ELUL THROUGH SUKKOT
There is a wide spread custom among Jewish communities around the world to recite Psalm 27, every day of the month of Elul, continuing right up to the final day of Sukkot, twice a day, once at the conclusion of the morning prayer and once at the conclusion of the afternoon prayer, (the custom of some is to recite the psalm at the conclusion of the evening prayer), a total of fifty-one days.
The origin of the custom is not known and it is first mentioned in Siddur Bet Yaakov, published in the mid-18th century.
The ineffable name of HaShem appears thirteen times in the psalm, reflecting the thirteen attributes of G-d’s mercy, as spelled out on Exodus 34:1-10, supremely appropriate for these days of reflection and penitence, leading up to and including the High Holidays, (Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur), and the festival of Sukkot.
But the entirety of the text of Psalm 27 is a powerful expression by David of seeking comfort and protection in G-d’s embrace.
David opens by declaring G-d’s salvation and protection against evil doers who seek to harm him. David’s trust in HaShem give him courage to stand up to adversity.
In verse four David makes the ultimate request to “dwell in the house of HaShem all the days of my life.”
The “tabernacle” (sukkah) providing David sanctuary from harm, mentioned in verse five is a clear reminder in our ears to the sukkot tabernacles that we build for ourselves and dwell in during the seven days of Sukkot, flimsy dwellings that nevertheless place us in the secure stronghold of HaShem.
In verse six, what is translated as "joyous song" is, in Hebrew, "tru-ah," which also means the blast of a shofar. In Torah, Rosh Hashana is referred to by the name Yom tru-ah, literally, "the day of the shofar blast." (Leviticus 23:24, Numbers 29:1) Another timely reminder of the upcoming Days of Awe, (Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur)!
"Seek My presence," (verse eight), is the order of the days of Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur. We are called upon to be seen by G-d and to account for ourselves.
David’s plea in verse nine that G-d not hide His face from him, is, of course our plea to HaShem. Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur are our opportunity to have G-d’s undivided attention.
Hopefully we do not share the same mournful plaint of David that he expresses in verse ten, but we can all take comfort in David’s confidence that, when all others seem to have abandoned us, G-d will always take us in.
David concludes with his eagerness to bring offerings to HaShem’s altar and to sing His praise.
The final verse of psalm 27, “Hope for HaShem, be strong and He will give your heart courage, and hope for HaShem” is a confession of faith that we should carry in our hearts every day of our lives.
Interpretations aside, read psalms 27 for yourself and you will no doubt be swept up by the beauty of its message and the power of its expression of trust in HaShem. The reason for its recitation during these days of return to HaShem becomes self-evident upon reading. And the message of hope and faith only sinks in deeper and deeper with every reading. Exquisitely beautiful in Hebrew, psalm 27 is a remarkable declaration of attachment to HaShem, in any language.

1 Of David. HaShem is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? HaShem is the stronghold of my life; from whom shall I be frightened?
2 When evildoers draw near to me to devour my flesh, my adversaries and my enemies against me - they stumbled and fell.
3 If a camp encamps against me, my heart shall not fear; if a war should rise up against me, in this I trust.
4 One thing I ask of HaShem, that I seek - that I may dwell in the house of HaShem all the days of my life, to see the pleasantness of HaShem and to visit His Temple every morning.
5 That He will hide me in His tabernacle on the day of calamity; He will conceal me in the secrecy of His tent; He will lift me up on a rock.
6 And now, my head will be raised over my enemies around me, and I will make offerings in His tent offerings with joyous song; I will sing and chant praise to HaShem.
7 Hearken, HaShem, to my voice which I call out, and be gracious to me and answer me.
8 On Your behalf, my heart says, "Seek My presence." Your presence, HaShem, I will seek.
9 Do not hide Your presence from me; do not turn Your servant away with anger. You were my help; do not forsake me and do not abandon me, O G-d of my salvation.

10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but HaShem gathers me in.
11 Instruct me, HaShem, in Your way, and lead me in the straight path because of those who lie in wait for me.
12 Do not deliver me to the desires of my adversaries, for false witnesses and speakers of evil have risen against me.
13 Had I not believed in seeing the good of HaShem in the land of the living!
14 Hope for HaShem, be strong and He will give your heart courage, and hope for HaShem.

א לְדָוִ֨ד יְהֹוָ֚ה אוֹרִ֣י וְ֖יִשְׁעִי מִמִּ֣י אִירָ֑א יְהֹוָ֖ה מָע֥וֹז חַ֜יַּ֗י מִמִּ֥י אֶפְחָֽד
ב בִּקְרֹ֥ב עָלַ֨י מְרֵעִים֘ לֶֽאֱכֹ֪ל אֶת־בְּשָׂ֫רִ֥י צָרַ֣י וְאֹֽיְבַ֣י לִ֑י הֵ֜֗מָּה כָּֽשְׁל֥וּ וְנָפָֽלוּ
ג אִם־תַּֽחֲנֶ֬ה עָלַ֨י מַֽחֲנֶה֘ לֹֽא־יִירָ֪א לִ֫בִּ֥י אִם־תָּק֣וּם עָ֖לַי מִלְחָמָ֑ה בְּ֜זֹ֗את אֲנִ֣י בוֹטֵֽחַ
ד אַחַ֚ת שָׁאַ֣לְתִּי מֵֽאֵת־יְהֹוָה֘ אוֹתָ֪הּ אֲבַ֫קֵּ֥שׁ שִׁבְתִּ֣י בְּבֵֽית־יְ֖הֹוָה כָּל־יְמֵ֣י חַיַּ֑י לַֽחֲז֥וֹת בְּנֹֽעַם־יְ֜הֹוָ֗ה וּלְבַקֵּ֥ר בְּהֵיכָלֽוֹ
ה כִּ֚י יִצְפְּנֵ֨נִי בְּסֻכֹּה֘ בְּי֪וֹם רָ֫עָ֥ה יַ֖סְתִּירֵֽנִי בְּסֵ֣תֶר אָֽהֳל֑וֹ בְּ֜צ֗וּר יְרֽוֹמְמֵֽנִי
ו וְעַתָּ֨ה יָר֪וּם רֹאשִׁ֡י עַל־אֹֽיְבַ֬י סְֽבִֽיבוֹתַ֗י וְאֶזְבְּחָ֣ה בְ֖אָֽהֳלוֹ זִבְחֵ֣י תְרוּעָ֑ה אָשִׁ֥ירָה וַֽ֜אֲזַמְּרָ֗ה לַֽיהֹוָֽה
ז שְׁמַע־יְהֹוָ֖ה קוֹלִ֥י אֶ֜קְרָ֗א וְחָנֵּ֥נִי וַֽעֲנֵֽנִי
ח לְךָ֚ אָמַ֣ר לִ֖בִּי בַּקְּשׁ֣וּ פָנָ֑י אֶת־פָּנֶ֖יךָ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֲבַקֵּֽשׁ
ט אַל־תַּסְתֵּ֬ר פָּנֶ֨יךָ מִמֶּנִּי֘ אַל־תַּט בְּאַ֗ף עַ֫בְדֶּ֥ךָ עֶזְרָתִ֥י הָיִ֑יתָ אַל־תִּטְּשֵׁ֥נִי וְאַל־תַּֽ֜עַזְבֵ֗נִי אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׁעִֽי
י כִּֽי־אָבִ֣י וְאִמִּ֣י עֲזָב֑וּנִי וַֽ֜יהֹוָה יַֽאַסְפֵֽנִי
יא ה֚וֹרֵ֥נִי יְהֹוָ֗ה דַּ֫רְכֶּ֥ךָ וּ֖נְחֵנִי בְּאֹ֣רַח מִישׁ֑וֹר לְ֜מַ֗עַן שֽׁוֹרְרָֽי
יב אַל־תִּ֖תְּנֵנִי בְּנֶ֣פֶשׁ צָרָ֑י כִּ֥י קָֽמוּ־בִ֥י עֵֽדֵי־שֶׁ֜֗קֶר וִיפֵ֥חַ חָמָֽס
יג ל֗וּ֗לֵ֣֗א֗ הֶֽ֖אֱמַנְתִּי לִרְא֥וֹת בְּטֽוּב־יְהֹוָ֗ה בְּאֶ֣רֶץ חַיִּֽים
יד קַוֵּ֗ה אֶל־יְהֹ֫וָ֥ה חֲ֖זַק וְיַֽאֲמֵ֣ץ לִבֶּ֑ךָ וְ֜קַוֵּ֗ה אֶל־יְהֹוָֽה

Moshe Ascends Sinai
Tradition holds that Moshe ascended Mount Sinai for the second time on Rosh Chodesh Elul (the first day of Elul). Following the sin of the golden calf, Moshe spent the next forty days atop Mount Sinai beseeching HaShem for forgiveness for Israel. Moshe would descend a second time on the eve of Yom Kippur. From this we learn that the month of Elul isn't simply the month that precedes the holiday filled month of Tishrei. The month of Elul is a time when HaShem's forgiveness for our transgressions and shortcomings is especially forthcoming. All the various customs described above are for the sole purpose of lifting us up and inspiring us to take the moment to heart, to take ourselves seriously and to prepare to the best of our ability for the upcoming days of Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur, true days of destiny. Both time and teshuvah - the ability to return to HaShem, to return to our true selves - are gifts from HaShem, woven into the very fabric of creation. Elul is a special month during which time and teshuvah rendezvous together, providing us, HaShem's children, the apple of His eye, the golden opportunity to pick up the pieces of our fractured selves and return to the image of G-d in which we are all created.
Have a blessed month!