Tuesday, Elul 3, 5778 / August 14, 2018
B"H
Tuesday, Elul 3, 5778 / August 14, 2018
Rosh Hashana, which will usher in the new Hebrew Year, 5779, will begin Sunday night, September 9, through Monday (September 10) and Tuesday (September 11).
As mentioned yesterday, the Shofar is sounded throughout the month of Elul.
Q. Each holiday has its specific mitzvot. The mitzvah of Rosh Hashana is the blowing of the Shofar, as commanded in the Torah. But why is the Shofar sounded each day of this month, Elul?
A. When Moshe went up Mount Sinai the first time to receive the Two Tablets, he stayed on the mountain forty days. Unfortunately, Jews gave up on Moshe coming back and made the Golden Calf, the day before he actually came down.
When Moshe came down the mountain and saw what they did, he broke the Tablets. Then Moshe went up again to pray for his people. G-d then told him to bring up two tablets upon which G-d will inscribe the Ten Commandmets a second time.
On Rosh Chodesh Elul, Moshe went up a third time and stayed there for forty days. Thus, the entire month of Elul and an additional ten days until Yom Kippur, he was on the mountain. On Yom Kippur G-d completely forgave their sin and Moshe came down with the second set of Tablets.
In order to make sure that the sin of the Golden Calf will not be repeated, they blew the Shofar the entire month of Elul to remind the people that Moshe was coming back. From then on it was established to blow the Shofar throughout the month of Elul.
Another reason for the sounding of the Shofar during this month is that it serves as a wake-up call. It reminds us of the significance of this month, for it’s the last month of the year.
Our sages compare the month of Elul to a businessman who, at year's end takes stock of his business situation. Analyzing his accomplishments during the outgoing year and reflecting upon his mistakes and opportunities which he missed during the year. Taking stock and reflecting on the past performances is essential to the continuation and success of the business.
The month of Elul serves the same purpose. During this month we prepare ourselves for the coming year by reviewing our spiritual accomplishments and the lack of them in the past year. We reflect upon our behavior and our relationship with G-d as well as with our fellow human. The Shofar is a reminder of the importance of each day of this month.
It is customary that during the month of Elul we wish each other a "Shana Tova" - A Happy and Healthy New Year. May we all be inscribed for a healthy and successful year. Amen
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
Monday, Elul 2, 5778 / August 13, 2018
B"H
Monday, Elul 2, 5778 / August 13, 2018
We are now in the month of Elul, the last month of the Hebrew year, 5778.
The month of Elul is called, “Chodesh Harachamim V’haslichot” – “The month of mercy and forgivness. Although G-d is always merciful and always forgiving, when we ask for His forgivness, during the month of Elul, G-d displays His mercy and forgivness in a more revealed way. During this month we recite additional prayers asking for G-d’s forgivness and pray that G-d grant us all a healthy, happy and sweet New Year.
Our sages tell us that G-d deals with us as we deal with others. Thus, if we want G-d’s mercy and forgivness, we too have to display mercy and forgivness to others. This is why we excell in giving charity this month more than other times and have more compassion in preperation for the New Year.
Jews of sephardic descent recite special “slichot” prayers, early morning, during the entire month of Elul. Those of Ashkenazic origin recite the selichot prayers during the week before Rosh Hashanah.
The Shofar is blown every day of this month (except the day before Rosh Hashana) after the morning service.
Q. Why is the month of Elul, more than other months of the year, a month of mercy and forgivness?
A. When the Jewish people made the Golden Calf, after receiving the Torah, G-d wanted to destroy them. Moshe prayed for G-d’s forgivness and His mercy on the people. G-d agreed.
He told Moshe to come up Mount Sinai again. Moshe went up the Mountain on Rosh Chodesh Elul and came down 40 days later, on Yom Kippur, with the Second Tablets and G-d's forgiveness for the people of Israel. Ever since, the month of Elul is a month for repentance and forgiveness.
The Baal Shem Tov compares G-d's accessibility, during this month, to a king who travels through the country to visit his citizens for one month during the year.
While the king is in his palace, it is difficult for the average citizen to see the king and ask for his personal needs. But when the king travels through the countryside, everyone has much easier access to him and can make any request of him.
The same is with G-d, explains the Baal Shem Tov. Other times of the year, one has to make a greater effort to penetrate the Gates of Heaven. However, during the month of Elul, G-d is easily accessible and fulfills all our requests.
May we all be inscribed for a healthy and successful year. Amen
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
Friday, Menachem Av 29, 5778 / August 10, 2018
B"H
Friday, Menachem Av 29, 5778 / August 10, 2018
One of the many mitzvot (commandments) recorded in this week's Parsha, Re'ay, and in next week’s Parsha, Shoftim, is the prohibition against worshipping idols.
Moshe commands the Jewish people that they must destroy the idols, the altars, and everything associated with them when they enter the Land of Israel.
Moshe also warns the people not to go astray after false prophets who would try to convince them to worship idols, even if they offer a sign or a miracle that comes true; "Do not listen to the words of that prophet or unto that dreamer of dreams, for the L-rd your G-d is testing you, to know whether you love G-d with all your heart and with all your soul. After the L-rd your G-d you shall walk, and Him you shall fear and His commandments you shall keep and unto His voice you shall listen and Him you shall serve and unto Him you shall cleave."
The Talmud tells the following story: The Roman Emperor Turnus Rufus asked Rabbi Akiva why G-d hates idol worshippers?
Rabbi Akiva replied, "I will give you an answer tomorrow."
The next day, Rabbi Akiva appeared before the Emperor and said, "Last night I had a strange dream. I dreamt that I had two dogs and I named them Rufus and Rufina."
The Emperor became furious. "You deserve the death penalty!" he yelled. How dare you name your dogs after me and my wife?"
"Hear what you have just said," exclaimed Rabbi Akiva. "Although there are many parallels between your actions and that of a dog; you both eat; you procreate as he does; and you both die, yet, if I called a dog by your and your wife's name you became furious."
"How much more so with G-d Al-mighty Who is the creator of the entire universe. He is eternal and all-powerful, yet you come along and name images of wood and stone 'God'. Can you expect him to tolerate this? Therefore He despises idol worshipers."
Tonight (Friday night), Shabbat and Sunday is Rosh Chodesh of the new Hebrew month Elul.
Elul is the last month of the year. The month of Elul is a special month. Although there are no holidays in Elul, it is the month in which we prepare for the coming New Year. Elul is the month in which we excel in prayer, charity and good deeds. It is the month in which we take an accounting of what we neglected during the past year, and make positive resolutions (to be kept) for the coming year.
SHABBAT SHALOM & A WONDERFUL HEALTHY CHODESH
Montrealcandle lighting time: 7:51 / Shabbat ends: 8:58
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