A Gut Chodesh Elul from AsktheRav.com!

 

The dedicated team of Rabbonim at AskTheRav would like to wish you a Gut Chodesh Elul!

“The King is in the field . . and displays a benevolent countenance to all, and fulfills their requests”

On Shabbos Re’eh 5748, the Rebbe presented two directives for the month of Elul:

1. [WISHES:] Each person should bless others (and be blessed in return) with the wish of kesivah vachasimah tovah le’shanah tovah u’mesukah (“May you be inscribed and sealed for a good, sweet year!”). It is appropriate that men bless men, women bless women, boys bless boys, and girls bless girls. This blessing should be extended to each individual Jew as well as to the entire Jewish nation as a whole. It should be expressed directly and in writing—as noted by latter halachic authorities, “It is customary when one pens a letter to send regards to a friend, from Rosh Chodesh Elul until Yom Kippur, that he add a prayerful wish that his friend merit to be judged favorably in the approaching days of judgment and to be inscribed and sealed in the Book of Good Life.” The blessing of a Jew, especially at an auspicious time—during the month of mercy when “the King is in the field … and displays a benevolent countenance to all, and fulfills their requests”—serves to increase Hashem’s blessings in fulfillment of the requests of each and every Jew for all they need, both materially and spiritually!
2. [CHECKING TEFILLIN & MEZUZOS:] Latter halachic authorities record, “The scrupulous are accustomed to have their tefillin and mezuzos checked during Elul, as well as seeing to the repair of all other aspects that concern the performance of mitzvos; this is a fine custom. Indeed, this is a way to increase the blessings we receive from Hashem—especially the blessing to be inscribed and sealed for a good, sweet year! It is worthwhile and highly appropriate that besides having our own Tefillin and Mezuzos checked, we also make an effort to publicize this practice wherever we can and to whomever we can.

“Every Rosh Chodesh the spark of Moshiach, also known as the ‘Yechida’, which is in every Jew’s soul (which is a spark of the general Yechida – the soul of Moshiach) is revealed.

The revelation of this spark resonates and causes a rejuvenation in the entire being of every Jew, so that everything he does in permeated with the level of his Yechida,

And, most importantly, through this the revelation and arrival of Moshiach is caused in the most literal sense – a king from the house of David, soul in body etc.,”

– Sicha of Parshas Toldos 5752

 

Rosh Chodesh always brings in an influx of related questions. Some might not even be aware of many of the Rosh Chodesh laws and customs. Therefore, our staff of Rabbonim has graciously compiled some Rosh Chodesh snippets for your convenience.

If you require any additional clarification or if you have a different question to ask, please submit your question here.

Wishing you a wonderful new month, and a ksiva vachasima tova, leshana tova umesukah, a year of geulah with the full revelation of Moshiach!

 

• Ya’ale Ve’Yavo: Reminder to say Ya’ale Ve’Yavo in Davening and Benching. What if I forget – do I repeat Shemoneh Esrei? or If I forget to mention Rosh Chodesh in Al Hamichya?

Forgot Ya’ale Ve’Yavo on Rosh Chodesh and remembered Toch K’dei Dibur of Yihiyu Leratzon

 

• Hallel: Read about the importance of reciting Hallel with a Minyan and whether you should say the Bracha for Hallel or just listen in to the Chazzan’s Bracha?

 

• Tachnun: Tachnun is not recited on Rosh Chodesh, and neither during the Mincha preceding it. What about by Krias Shme Al Hamita on Motzei Rosh Chodesh? 

 

• Cutting Nails: We do not cut our nails on Rosh Chodesh. What if my nails are long? What if Rosh Chodesh is on Friday? What about children’s nails? How about a manicure?

 

• Haircuts: We do not take haircuts on Rosh Chodesh. What If a Boy’s third birthday (Upshernish) is on Rosh Chodesh?

 

• Melacha: Women have the custom of refraining from work on Rosh Chodesh. What type of work does this include? Which parts of doing laundry are allowed?

 

• Beis HaChaim: It is customary not to go to a cemetery on Rosh Chodesh. What about going to the Ohel?

 

• Rosh Chodesh Seudah: One should celebrate Rosh Chodesh with a special Seudah, adding at least one special dish. It is appropriate to wash on bread at this meal, although not an obligation. The Rebbe also encouraged people to Farbreng on Rosh Chodesh.

 

• Tehillim Study: Reminder to learn your Tehillim (as well as the Rebbe’s Kapitel). Read about it here.

 

 

Five Acronyms Of Elul

These are the five acronyms of the name “Elul” (אלול) that are based on Torah verses. Each of the verses represents another aspect of Divine service that we should emphasize throughout the month:

1) אנה לידו ושמתי לך “[Hashem] caused it to come to his hand, and [He] will provide for you [a place to flee]”—this corresponds to Torah study.

2) אני לדודי ודודי לי “I am to my Beloved (Hashem) and my Beloved is to me”—this corresponds to the service of prayer.

3) איש לרעהו ומתנות לאביונים “[Sending delicacies] each to the other and gifts to the poor”—this corresponds to acts of charity.

4) את לבבך ואת לבב “[Hashem, your G-d, will circumcise] your heart and the heart of your offspring [to love Hashem, your G-d, with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live]”—this corresponds to teshuvah.

5) ויאמרו לאמר אשירה לה “[Then Moshe and the Children of Israel sang this song to Hashem] and they declared saying: I will sing to Hashem”—this corresponds to Geulah.

We should publicize and promote the spiritual tasks of Elul that are alluded to by its five acronyms everywhere. These are: Torah-study, prayer, acts of kindness, penitence and Redemption. Immersing ourselves completely with the theme of the redemption—and especially through studying those areas of Torah that discuss redemption, Moshiach and the Beis Hamikdash—amidst expectant yearning and an absolute certainty that we will literally and immediately see with our corporeal eyes that “Behold! The King Moshiach comes!”

We should lay special emphasis on the Redemption, for which the acronym of Elul is found in the verse, “I will sing to Hashem; and they declared saying”—in a manner that results in Redemption permeating every aspect of our Divine service.