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18 Elul:
Tur, Orach Chaim; Chapter 581: On Erev Rosh Hashanah, the day before the holiday begins, it is the custom is for the leaders of the people to fast in their merit. This parallels the demand of the people in the desert that Moses send “great men” to explore the Land of Israel. (Likutei Maharich) We are directed by the sages to follow the path blazed by great people who have discovered the most productive path possible. Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto explains in The Path of the Just, that the challenges of life can be compared to a complex maze in which most people lose their sense of direction and get stuck and lost. He compares the sages to someone who has successfully navigated the maze and has learned the correct way out. He describes the Sages as people standing above the maze and directing those who are stuck to the exit. The great men who explored the Land of Israel failed in their mission. They led the people to disaster. Perhaps the leaders of the people fast in order to make sure that they do not stumble as did ten of the twelve spies. They fast in order to merit the status of one who has successfully navigated the maze. The current custom is for everyone to fast until midday. 19 Elul: It is the custom for all people to perform “Hatarat Nedarim,” the Annulment of Vows, on the morning before Rosh Hashanah. It is essential that we practice speaking with integrity before we stand in front of the Heavenly Court on the Day of Judgment, that we mean what we say. We do not want to be halfhearted when we ask God to commit to directing and guiding our lives for another year and to filling the year with blessing. We focus on perfecting our speech before the Judgment begins. 20 Elul: We are not only obligated by our speech. We are enjoined to be consistent with our actions as well. For example, if someone practiced a new custom for three days without clearly stating that the practice is being accepted not as a vow, the custom has the status of a vow. We are reminded on the day before Rosh Hashanah that our actions create realities. We are obligated to pay attention to all we do. This is an essential step before we are judged for all our actions, words, and thoughts. 21 Elul: Seder Hayom: It is customary to recite Psalm 107 just before Mincha, the Afternoon Service, before the eve of the Holiday. The laws of Blessing of Thanksgiving are derived from this psalm. David describes those who have miraculously survived illness, a trip through the desert or across the sea, or imprisonment by an enemy. The psalm describes the miracles of life. Life is challenging. Some challenges are life threatening and others are simply overwhelming. We spend a few minutes, as we prepare for our judgment, focusing on the miracles in our lives and celebrating the challenges we have overcome. 22 Elul: Zohar HaKodesh; Volume 2, page 184a: Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and his students would spend their year in seclusion. On Rosh Hashanah they would travel to a city in order to join with the community. The concept of community is vital to Rosh Hashanah. Ezra and Nehemiah urged the people who participated in the first Rosh Hashanah of the Second Temple to stand in unity, just as Israel stood at Sinai. In fact, they also insisted that people send “portions to those who have nothing prepared.” (Nehemiah, Chapter 8, verses 1-10) It is tempting to focus on ourselves as we prepare for the judgment of Rosh Hashanah. Nehemiah in his words, and Rabbi Shimon in his practice, remind us that we cannot stand alone on the Day of Judgment. We must stand with the community and pray for all. 23 Elul: Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim; 581:1: It is necessary to search for the most appropriate people to lead the services and to blow the shofar. Zohar Hakodesh, Volume 3, Page 18a: Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai would spend three days preparing someone before allowing him to lead the prayers or blow the shofar. We look to those who lead the prayers and blow the shofar to advocate for us before God. Whom will we choose? We usually participate in services for which the leaders have already been selected. We are actually obligated to search for a community led by people we would want to represent us before the Heavenly Court. We tend to prefer those with the most pleasant voices and who inspire others to sing with them. However, our first priority must be to search for the most appropriate advocate. This in turn will enhance out awareness of the seriousness of the day. 24 Elul: Shulchan Aruch; Orach Chaim; 584:2: On the first day of Rosh Hashanah the Torah reading is the story of Sarah giving birth to Isaac. The Haftarah selection from the prophets is the story of Chana’s successful prayer to be blessed with a child. Rosh Hashanah is historically a time of great miracles. Zohar HaKodesh, Volume 1, page 37a: Adam was created on Rosh Hashanah. It was on this day that Sarah, Rachel and Chanah miraculously conceived. Elisha, the prophet, restored the young boy, the son of the Shunamit, to life on Rosh Hashanah. Our Rosh Hashanah prayers must be focused on unlimited potential of the day. We must pray with the awareness that it is a day on which nothing is impossible. Our opportunities are infinite on this day.
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