This article outlines some of the customs designed to help prepare one spiritually for the Jewish New Year and the High Holiday season, from blowing shofar and reciting selichot throughout the month of Elul to annulling personal vows the day before Rosh Hashanah. A useful resource that mentions the different traditions practiced in various communities, this excerpt from Celebrating the Jewish Year by Rabbi Paul Steinberg was reprinted on My Jewish Learning, a website empowering Jewish discovery for anyone interested in learning more.