Word Prompt – ELUL – Yitzy Spinner

For any professional chazzan, the word Elul means quite a bit. It means our busiest season is just around the corner. While everyone prepares for the Yamim Nora’im in their own unique way, My Elul is filled with machzor prep. I usually spend my summer teaching others how to lead davening through Yamim Nora’im, so by time Elul begins, I’ve already been engrossed in the machzorim. Now, however, is the time when each baal tefillah really starts to fine tune song selections.

Which songs do I want to sing where? Which keys do I want to sing in? Which new melodies do I want to introduce this year? Which older ones do I want to revisit? I also review my notes from previous years (which I diligently take immediately following every Yom Tov) to ensure that I know what worked well and what could have been done better.

For me, however, practically speaking, Elul represents not only the month leading into the Yamim Nora’im, but also Sukkos and Simchas Torah. It may seem obvious, but for someone who’s preparing a month’s worth of leading davening, there really is a lot to consider – from Selichos to Rosh Hashanah to Ne’ilah to Hoshana Rabba to Geshem and more!

May this Elul give us the opportunity with renewed meaning and passion and we prepare our minds and souls (and voices) for the inspiring days ahead.