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Dedicated in memory of Rachel Leah bat R' Chaim Tzvi Volume 5 Number 26 Brought to you by Naaleh.com Hilchot Teshuva Based on a Naaleh.com shiur by Rabbi Shimon Isaacson Is Rosh Hashana a holiday of joy or awe? the giving of the Torah, the redemption, and v’gilu bir’ada.” Serve Hashem with fear and There seems to be a dichotomy. The the ultimate triumph of akeidat Yitzchak. On rejoice in trembling. Rosh Hashana is when we Shulchan Aruch says one should eat, drink, the other hand it commemorates the tears of are meant to feel the pain of how far we’ve and rejoice. Yet the Terumat Hadeshen rules Sisra’s mother and is shaped in a bent and strayed. Along with that, we’re also meant to that one can fast and the Shulchan Aruch submissive fashion to awaken us to sense the intimate connection we have with permits the recital of Tzidkatcha in davening repentance. The prayers on Rosh Hashana the Creator which should lead us to true because it’s not a yom tov in the classic reflect this paradox too. The most intense part simcha. sense. The Rama disagrees and says the of the Mussaf tefilah is Unetane Tokef. Yet custom is not to say it. The Rambam solves immediately after, the mood is transformed In Elul we repent from the outside in. On Rosh this seeming conflict by noting that although from fear to joy. Rosh Hashana is not really a Hashana we repent from the inside out. Elul is these are days of joy, there should not be time of repentance. It’s a day when we crown knocking down the structure brick by brick. excessive joy. This is in keeping with the Hashem king. We don’t say vidui or selichot Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur is uprooting Gemara that says that Hallel is not recited on because we cannot begin the process of the foundation. As we proclaim Hashem king, Rosh Hashana because the books of life and teshuva before affirming that Hashem is the we can reach into the depths of our souls, death are open. ultimate Ruler. It’s a frightening and awe break through the barriers, and begin building inspiring day, yet it’s also a time when we can anew. The shofar too has this element of contrasts. rejoice with the knowledge that Hashem loves On the one hand it reminds us of the joy of us. The Navi tells us, “Ivdu et Hashem b’yirah Elul- Recognizing The Relationship Based on a Naaleh.com shiur by Mrs. Shira Smiles There is a spirit of love between Hashem and Elul and Tishrei, we feel Hashem’s closeness and bringing Him into our daily life in Elul the Jewish people that permeates the months more acutely. Therefore, our accountability is cultivates a relationship that grows into of Elul and Tishrei. Hashem is especially greater. Our responsibility is to tap into that something bigger on Rosh Hashana. Conse- close to us during these days and accepts our energy. We are not being two-faced by quentially, when the chazzan intones teshuva readily. In turn, we increase our adopting extra stringencies, we are responding “Hamelech,” the connotation is far greater. Torah learning, add extra selichot prayers, to the matrix of time. During these days of introspection, we need to and are careful in our mitzva observance. The The Imrei Chaim compares the High Holy ask ourselves, What is my purpose on this Taz notes that one who normally eats pat Days to a woman expecting her first child. world? Am I satisfied with the bit of Yiddishkeit palter (bread baked by a non-Jew) or drinks There’s the apprehension of the upcoming I have or do I want a deeper relationship with chalav stam (milk, milked without Jewish birth and the joy of becoming a mother. Hashem? Are my actions meeting up with my supervision) should refrain from doing so Similarly on Rosh Hashana, there’s the goals? What defines me? Hashem doesn’t during the Ten Days of Repentance. Taking trepidation of coming under the scrutiny of the demand from us more than we can achieve. on temporary strictures seems like a charade. King and the joy of basking in His presence. We do however need to actualize the potential Can we fool Hashem? Our challenge is to tap into Hashem’s love and latent within us. The more we work on Rabbi Tatz writes that time is not passive, but closeness. If we cannot feel emotionally that ourselves, the more we can uncover our rather the energy source for our actions. Each Hashem is with us, we cannot go through the essence. And when we allow the intrinsic light day of our lives demands a certain sensitivity process of reflection and teshuva. The true within us to shine forth, we can begin travers- and growth. Our challenge is to learn how to depth of teshuva is recognizing Hashem’s ing the road towards true repentance. respond appropriately to each time period. In presence. Talking to Him on a constant basis Selichot: Keys to Forgiveness Part I Based on a Naaleh.com shiur by Rabbi Avishai David While Sefardim begin saying Selichot on night because it is a time of judgment. We Jews would sin and then recite this prayer they Rosh Chodesh Elul, Ashkenazim begin on the approach Hashem as paupers and through the would be granted a reprieve. motzai Shabbat before Rosh Hashana. This is emotional language attempt to evoke related to the law requiring a sacrifice to be Hashem’s mercy. In many ways Selichot are akin to Shemone inspected for flaws four days before it is Esrei. Selichot are recited with a shaliach brought on the altar. Selichot is said at night, The Gemara teaches that after cheit ha’egel, tzibbur, he performs ituf, and there is a buildup based on the verse, “Kumi roni ba’layla.” Hashem wrapped Himself in a tallit like a of the order of the tefilah. Many tzaddikim Ashkenazim recite Selichot after midnight, shaliach tzibbur (prayer leader) and showed would stand throughout the prayer. while Sefardim generally begin before dawn. Moshe the order of prayer of the thirteen Selichot are not said in the earlier part of the attributes of mercy. He assured him that if the Shemone Esrei is divided in three segments: Continued on page 2 Help support Naaleh by searching the web! For more information visit www.iGive/Naaleh.com & www.iSearchiGive/Naaleh.com visit us online at: www.naaleh.com | for questions, suggestions, or dedication opportunities, email [email protected] 1 Dedicated in memory of Rachel Leah bat R' Chaim Tzvi Volume 5 Number 26 Brought to you by Naaleh.com Selichot: Keys to Forgiveness Part I Based on a Naaleh.com shiur by Rabbi Avishai David Continued from page 1 shevach (praise), hodaah (thanks), bakasha bakasha comprises the bulk of the Selichot as (request). Similarly, Selichot begin with we plead for mercy. With a sense of shame, The Selichot are a special gift from Hashem, a Ashrei, the epitome of shevach. We include we approach the Almighty as beggars full of wake-up call to repent, an opportunity to hodaah by mentioning elements of Hashem’s remorse and we plead for mercy. We invoke the yud gimmel middot, and to beseech holiness and how His strength is hidden in the conclude with tachanun and kaddish just as our merciful Creator that all our prayers be foundation of creation. The element of we do after Shemone Esrei. answered for a blessed new year. Achieving Balance #11 Based on a Naaleh.com shiur by Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller Question: inclination’s strongest weapon is despair. Tehillim creative. Devise a different plan of action. If that What is the correct hashkafic approach to says, “A tzaddik falls seven times and rises.” too fails, think of something else. Realize that dealing with failure? For instance, when we Hashem will not judge you by your successes, commit a sin that we resolved not to do There are seven attributes we share with but rather by your efforts. Failing is completely again, or when we destroy relationships that Hashem. A person could fail at each one but it normal. Many times we look at great people and we resolved to build. How do we maintain doesn’t give him an excuse not to get up again. think they were born righteous. In fact most our self-esteem in the face of feeling The difference between a tzaddik and a rasha is tzaddikim started out small and suffered many worthless inside? not that a tzaddik never fails, but that he rises up setbacks before they finally attained their the seventh time. You must get up and try again. elevated spiritual level. Answer: If you resolved not to do something and then did We all fail at some point in life. The evil it again, the method you used didn’t work. Be Insights of the Chassidic Masters: Standing Before G-d -Class #1 Based on a Naaleh.com shiur by Rabbi Moshe Weinberger The Baal Hatanya, in his introduction to his The Gemara writes, “On Rosh Hashana, on Rosh Hashana is to reveal the deep inner essay, “Atem Nitzavim” explains the Torah’s Hashem tells us, ‘Say before me these prayers: connection between our soul and the essence ambiguity about Rosh Hashana. He writes that Malchiyot, so you will accept my kingship, of Hashem. For a person to say “Hamelech” on Rosh Hashana is the day we were created.

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