A Time of Reconciliation

Since Elul is the last month of the year and immediately precedes Rosh Hashanah - Day of Judgment for all the world's inhabitant's - it was established as a time for repentance. We therefore recite Selichos and penitential prayers to God. 

From ancients times, these have been days of reconciliation between God and Israel.When Israel committed the sin of the golden calf and the tablets of the Law were broken, Moshe ascended the mountain and pleaded for Divine mercy and forgiveness. God acquiesced, telling him (Shemos 34:1): Fashion two tablets like the first ones. Moshe ascended the mountain on Rosh Chodesh Elul and stayed there for forty days, until the tenth of Tishrei. On the tenth of Tishrei he brought down the second tablets from the mountain, those which God had given Israel willingly and joyfully. This forty-day period - between Rosh Chodesh Elul and the tenth of Tishrei - was fixed for all generations as a time of reconciliation, a period of repentance and forgiveness.

Although true repentance is always accepted, the days of Elul are especially suited for repentance, for during this period Divine mercy is aroused and God's hand is outstretched to welcome those who return to Him.

source: The Book of Our Heritage by Eliyahu Kitov

share on: facebook

The Sacrifices of God

"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart,
O God, Thou will not despise" (Psalms 51:19).

"A broken spirit" connotes a lowly and humble spirit, and "a broken heart" relates to the breaking of physical desire; for the heart is the repository of desire, as it is said,

"Thou has given him his heart's desire" (ibid. 21:3).

The fact that the statement, "A broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise" is found in the psalm of repentance teaches us that the penitent is rendered acceptable to God through the breaking of physical desire, and that this last-mentioned element is a principle of repentance. Is is further stated in relation to repentance.

"...... to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the
contrite ones" (Isaiah 57:15).

source: XXXIII. First Gate / "The Gates of Repentance" Rabbeinu Yonah of Gerona
share on: facebook

The Gates of Repentance

"Good and upright is the Lord; therefore doth He instruct sinners in the way" (Psalms 25:8). Even if they have offended and rebelled exceedingly, and been utterly faithless, He has not closed the doors of repentance to then, as it is said, "Turn ye unto Him against whom ye have deeply rebelled, O children of Israel" (Isaiah 31:6), and, "Return, ye backsliding children, I will heal your backslidings" (Jeremiah 2:22).

The Torah in many instances exhorts us in relation to repentance. It is shown that penance is accepted even when the sinner repents because of his many troubles, much more so when his repentance proceeds from the fear and love of God, as it is said, "In thy distress, when all these things are come upon thee, in the end of days, thou wilt return to the Lord thy God and hearken to His voice" (Deuteronomy 4:30). And it is clear from the Torah that God assists the penitent when they are limited by their nature, and implants in them a spirit of purity whereby they may attain to the level of loving Him, as it is said, "And thou shalt return unto the Lord thy God, and hearken to His voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thy heart and with all thy soul" (ibid. 30:2); and in the same connection it is said, "And the Lord thy God will circumcise thy heart, and the heart of thy seed..."(ibid. 6) to attain to the love of God. The Prophets and The Writings are replete with references to repentance, so that all of the principles of repentance are contained withing them, as will be explained.

THE GATES OF REPENTANCE

Rabbeinu Yonah of Gerona

share on: facebook

STEPPING STONES TO REPENTANCE: A THIRTY-DAY PROGRAM

The 9 days have begun. Let us look inside to see where we can better ourselves - where we need to do teshuva, where we need to do more good deeds, where we need to guard our mouth from speaking loshon hora and guard our eyes from the unmodesty that surrounds us.

B”H

INTRODUCTION

STEPPING STONES TO REPENTANCE: A THIRTY-DAY PROGRAM

The Talmud (Berachos 3b) tells us: “A harp was hanging over King David’s bed. At midnight a north wind came and blew upon it and it played. King David arose immediately and studied Torah until the break of dawn…” Which verse teaches us this?

“Awake, my soul, awake, lyre and harp; I will awaken the dawn (Tehillim 57:9).”

The Maharsha points out that the word awake appears three times in this verse

corresponding to the three types of spiritual awakening. They are:

1. A person arouses himself.

2. A person uses another entity to arouse himself.

3. A person arouses another person (or entity).

King David aroused himself to study Torah from dusk till midnight — “Awake, my soul.” At midnight, the harp awakened him to rise as a lion — “Awake, lyre and harp.” Then King David awakened the morning — “I will awaken the dawn.”

King David’s vibrant study of Torah throughout the night was powered by all three

types of arousal — each one strengthening the next. We understand from this passage

that before a person can serve Hashem, he must be spiritually awake.

The month of Elul precedes the holy days of Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur. This month was designated by our Sages as a time for preparation to awaken and arouse ourselves for the upcoming Days of Awe. How can this be accomplished?

Rav Yisrael Salanter, the founder of the Mussar movement, teaches us that Mussar study is the primary and most effective way to open our hearts towards teshuvah (repentance) on Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur.

Stepping Stones to Repentance: A Thirty-Day Program was designed to guide you step by step through the preparation necessary to merit the abundant blessings of the Holy Days. Although it was designed especially for the month of Elul, one may begin Stepping Stones to Repentance at any time. Set aside a specific time each day to learn a daily segment of the program. Read each segment aloud, with feeling, and take time to absorb the profound concepts.

May Hashem bless you in your commitment to complete Stepping Stones to Repentance. May it awaken your heart, particularly during the designated Ten Days of Repentance, and may the collective repentance of klal Yisrael arouse mercy in Heaven that we may merit the final redemption and the rebuilding of the Beis HaMikdash (the Temple) soon and within our days!

http://www.teachittome.com/launch.php?URL=%2Fmiller%2FSteppingStones.pdf

share on: facebook