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B"H

Thursday, Elul 2, 5784 / September 5, 2024

 

Yesterday was Rosh Chodesh, the first day of the new month – and last month of the year, 5784. I wish you all a wonderful month of Elul.

 

I also want to share with you my great appreciation and thanks to Hashem for all the good He blessed us with. In the past three weeks, we celebrated the birth and Bris of a grandson. Then a wedding of a grandson (not the same grandson as the Bris..) and three days ago the Bris of another grandson. B”H.

 

May Hashem bless you and your family with many many happy occasions, simchas and nachas.

 

Yesterday was the second day of Rosh Chodesh Elul.  The Shofar is sounded each day of the month of Elul after the morning service, except Shabbat & the last day of the month.

 

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.   

 

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 perform as many mitzvot as one can during their lifetime. The mitzvot we perform during our lifetime also benefits our future generations.

 

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY & SHANA TOVA

 

UNITED WE STAND AND PRAY FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY TO BE RELEASED NOW