B"H
Tuesday, Elul 14, 5784 / September 17, 2024
The mitzvah of repentance (Teshuvah) applies each day of the year. Yet, it has special significance during the month of Elul until Yom Kippur. These 40 days correspond to the 40 days that Moshe was on Mount Sinai, where he prayed and achieved G-d's forgiveness for the sin of the Golden Calf.
Rabbi Avraham of Slonim once gave a sermon about the significance of the month of Elul and the importance of Teshuvah-repentance.
Someone said, "Rabbi, what good is repenting, which I try to do, yet I don't feel any spiritual uplifting. In fact, from time to time I fall back into my bad habits. What purpose is there in my repenting?"
Rabbi Avraham replied, "When a person realizes that they are sinking in deep mud and must get out before it’s too late, they have to take big steps and try to get to safe ground. Although, each time the person puts his foot back down, he again steps into the mud, yet, if he stops he will sink completely. But, if he continues, even though he is still in the mud, every move will bring him closer to getting out."
"The same is with Teshuvah. When you try to emerge from the spiritual mud, you may not see any improvement at first. But as long as you keep on making an effort to emerge, you will eventually succeed. The worst thing is to stop, for then you will surely sink in the mud!"
Q. What is the meaning of "Rosh Hashana?"
A. The literal translation of "Rosh Hashana" is not beginning of the year, but "Head of the year." Our sages explain: just as the "head" controls the entire body of the person, so too, on Rosh Hashana, the head of the year, G-d determines what will happen during the coming year. Everything that will happen during the coming year is decreed on Rosh Hashana.
Q. If everything is decreed on Rosh Hashana, why do we pray every day when everything has already been decreed?
A. True, everything has been decreed in heaven on Rosh Hashana, yet for these decisions to reach us here in this physical world, it has to go through many channels and these blessings may not come down here in the physical form we want them in. Thus, we pray each day for health, sustenance, wisdom etc. that the blessings which were decreed should come to us in the proper physical form and that we will see the blessings in a revealed way.
Q. Why is the Hebrew year called, Shana?
A. “Shana” has the numerical value of 355. The average Hebrew year is comprised of approximately 355 days. Hence, a year is called, SHANA. Thus, Rosh Hashana means the head of the 355 days which makes up the year.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY – SHANA TOVA
UNITED WE STAND WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY. MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW