Rabbi Blog

Dear QJC Family,
 
As I try to do before every yuntif, below you can find a Halachic Guide to Yamim Noraim, with the most practical halachos and an overview of the Zmanim.

https://images.shulcloud.com/522/uploads/Rabbi/Rabbis-files/HalachicGuidetoYamimNoraim5783.pdf


We are in the month of Elul. Elul is famously said to be an acronym, and there are many different ideas Elul can stand for. But the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch gives the following explanation for the hidden meaning of Elul based on the following verses:
ומל ה' אלקיך את לבבך ואת לבב זרעך - "And Hashem your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your children" (Devarim 30:6)

אני לדודי ודודי לי - "I am my Beloved's and my Beloved is mine" (Shir Hashirim 6:3)

איש לרעהו ומתנות לאביונים - "One to another and gifts to the poor" (Esther 9:22)

Each one of these verses symbolizes an important aspect of the Yamim Noraim season. The first verse relates to teshuva - opening our hearts to return to Hashem. The second verse relates to tefillah - building a reciprocal relationship with Hashem. Finally, the last verse relates to tzedakah - giving charity.

I would add also that the first verse relates to the "bein adam l'atzmo," the ways in which we work to improve ourselves to be open; the second verse relates to "bein adam la-Makom," our relationship with Hashem; and the third "bein adam lachaveiro," our relationships with other people.

With working on ourselves in all of these areas, may our teshuva, tefillah, and tzedakah be accepted by Hashem to grant us a happy and healthy year ahead.
 
With best wishes for a כתיבה וחתימה טובה,
 
Judah Kerbel
Rabbi, Queens Jewish Center