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Rosh Hashanah During the days before Rosh Hashanah - we begin saying Selichos. Ashkenazim start around a week before, while Sefardim say Selichot the entire month of Ellul. The source of Selichos is associated with the saying of the 13 attributes of mercy which our tradition tells us Hashem promised Moshe would never be said in vain. R' Moshe Cordavaro, one of the greatest of the Kabbalists of Tzfas and teacher of the Ar"i Z"l, wrote a small book called Tomar Devorah explaining these 13 attributes. He makes the point that it is not sufficient that we ask of Hashem that he reflect these attributes, we too, must reflect them in our daily lives and commitment to Judaism. "It is not in Heaven to say `who will go up to Heaven for us'...nor is it over the sea to say `who will cross over for us' ... - in your mouth and your heart to do it" 30:11-14. A story is recounted in the "Tana d'Vei Eliyahu" about a certain trapper who was making excuses to Eliyahu HaNavi (Elijah the Prophet) that Heaven had not favoured him with the necessary intelligence and knowledge to learn Torah. Eliyahu replied to him: "Take flax and spin it! Weave it into nets, and trap fish and fowl! Intelligence and knowledge were certainly given to you by Heaven-to learn Torah! In other words, you didn't emerge from your mother's womb as a full-blown hunter; rather the necessity to earn a living was your teacher that helped you to grasp the techniques of hunting. If you had felt the same necessity to learn Torah, you certainly would have been able to learn Torah as well as you can hunt! (Ohel Torah in Mayanah Shel Torah) "And you will return it to your heart among all the nations where Hashem has dispersed you; and you will return to Hashem your G-d" (30:1). `Are you Jewish?' `Really? So am I!' Every Jew, however far he may have wandered from the faith and traditions of his people, always has a lingering feeling of affinity when he meets another Jew. This is really rather strange, because what could a secular Jew born in Russia, France, and Yemen all have in common? Certainly, it's not a cultural affinity...and yet there is that unmistakable feeling of warmth and kinship! When the Jewish People stood together at the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai, there was engraved on the heart of every Jew an ineradicable love for his fellow, and even when all other connection to Judaism has withered, this love, hewn in the heart, stands firm like a rock. In the process of returning to Judaism, the first step is a return to the Jewish People, to the heart and the message of common love engraved there; and then, inevitably, after this comes a return to Hashem. That is the meaning of this verse: "And you will return it to your heart among all the nations where Hashem has dispersed you; and you will return to Hashem your G-d" (Adapted from Meshech Chochmah) "...At the end of seven years ... you shall read this Torah before all Israel...the men, the women, and the small children" (31:10 - 12). How often do we see that people who are very far from religious observance, when faced with the necessity of educating their children, will suddenly become much more religious! Rashi, commenting on this verse, says that the reason small children should be brought to hear the Torah read at the time of Hakhel, is "to cause reward to those who bring them." In other words, the Torah is implying that the reason for the children coming has nothing to do with the influence that it might have on the children themselves. Rather, by wanting to set a good example for their children, the parents will be more careful in their observance of mitzvos, and be sure to come to hear the King read the Torah at Hakhel. (Rabbi Michoel Schoen) Gather the people together, men, women and children (Deut. 31:12) Rashi asks: Why were the children included? To bring reward to the parents who brought them.G-d helps parents raise their children to be G-d-fearing and upright to the same degree that they put their efforts into the task.(Sefat Emet) R' Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev came to Selichos. He stood by the Amud and stood quietly for some time. Finally he lifted his head and said, "Master of the world, I am a mortal, born of a woman, and an old man who is no longer able to arise early to say all the Selichos. But You are eternal. You are mighty. You do not become old , You do not sleep. The Selichos that you recite are short. They consist of one word; Salachti - 'I have forgiven.' Please recite Your Selichos and tell us, 'I have forgiven'" |
