B"H
Friday, Elul 1, 5780 / August 21, 2020
Today is the second day of Rosh Chodesh Elul. This week’s Parsha isShoftim. In the Pirkei Avot we recite the sixth chapter.
The Shofar is sounded each day of the month of Elul (except Shabbat & the last day of the month) after the morning service.
Q. Why is the Shofar blown during the month of Elul?
A. The Shofar serves as a wake-up call. It reminds us of the significance of this month when G-d is close to us and more accessible than throughout the rest of the year. The Shofar reminds us to repent and perform extra deeds of kindness and charity to prepare for Rosh Hashana.
Q. What is the origin of the Shofar being blown during the month of Elul?
A. The Shofar blowing on Rosh Hashana is a Biblical (Torah) requirement. But the sounding of the Shofar during this month is a rabbinical tradition.
This is how it came about: At the conclusion of the forty days, when Moshe went up Mount Sinai to receive the Two Tablets, the people made the Golden Calf. When Moshe went up on Rosh Chodesh Elul, to receive the second Tablets, the Shofar was blown each day to remind the people that Moshe was going to return at the end of forty days and they shouldn’t make the same mistake again.
During Elul we are careful to perform as many mitzvot as possible in order to maximize our merits.
King Solomon in Proverbs gives us the following advice: "Go to the ant and see her wise ways. She has not a master, nor a ruler, yet she prepares her bread in the summer and gathers her food during the harvest."
The Midrash explains: An ant is continuously gathering and storing food. Although the ant lives a short period of time and does not consume too much food, yet it spends its entire life gathering and collecting food much more than it can consume during its own short lifetime.
According to the Midrash, King Solomon is speaking to a person who is lazy in the performance of mitzvot.
King Solomon emphasizes that we should never be satisfied with the amount of mitzvot we have done. One should never say I have enough mitzvot! One should try to perform as many mitzvot as one can during their lifetime.
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montrealcandle lighting time: 7:33 / Shabbat ends: 8:36