The phrase ”Ani ledodi vedodi li” means ”I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine”. The words originate from the ”Song of Songs” and are believed to be an actual celebration of the bride and groom and the love there is between them. Although it has not been fully established, scholars considered that the groom referred to in the piece was King David.

Despite its religious origin, the phrase is filled with romanticism, as it refers to the commitment and the true feelings manifested by one another in a couple. It is the utmost love statement, a manner of saying ”I am yours” and have something religious to back it with. In this regard, the phrase can be easily engraved on rings, necklaces, bracelets, pendants, etc.

The phrase can be interpreted as a love statement between people, but above all it should be considered the supreme love statement between God and the ordinary human being. This phrase should be as a manner in which God, the Beloved Divine entity reaches to the human being and bestows His love over the latter.

The letters of the each of the words of the phrase create the acronym ELUL. Elul is the name of the Hebrew month before the High Holy Days. It is characteristic of this month for one to engage in teshuvah (repentance). Through this repentance the individual is drawn closer to his loved ones and implicitly, to God.

It is during this Elul that one must engage in initiating a relationship with God. That is why the first word of the phrase is ”ani”, meaning ”I”. This ”I” comprises not just a vision of who one is, but is also representative of what one might become in time. This relationship with God is an intimate one, based on introspection, which will not only benefit God but the individual primarily. This can be easily translated into a religious service which invokes God (which is to be found in the first part of the phrase, and ends by receiving Godliness in a tangible manner. As a matter of fact, this phrase is used in the religious services until Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur.

It is a fact that God’s willingness is to be bestowed upon every Jew. However, this willingness is concealed and shall only be revealed should the recepient manifest the appropriate interest and behavior. In some cases, where the individual has been blemishing his soul through forbidden acts or thoughts, this willingness is not visible and will not be that easily revelead to the individual. That is why, upon seeking God and his willingness one should do it with an open heart and soul.

Thus, although it appears to be a pledge of love between two people, the phrase is more; it is an expression of the communication between man and God and of the kindness and willingness bestowed by God upon the former. It can also be interpreted as a means of God’s greatness and holiness being transmitted upon the individual, in an attempt to show that this is how the world and the individuals populating it are to be defined.