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Rosh Chodesh Elul: Chodesh
haRachamim and haSelichot
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We know that Chodesh Elul is the month best suited for making teshuvah, and for making
shalom: shalom between ben Adam vChaveiro (a man and his friend), between man and his
wife, and between ben Adam vhaKadosh Baruchu Hu. The reason for this, according to the
pshat (simple, straightforward understanding of this Torah concept) is so that may arrive at
Rosh Hashana, the Yom haDin (The Day of Judgement), we are clean and pure from all chet
(sins), hidden resentments, grudge-holding, and sinat chinam, etc...
The question remains why, dafka, is it that this month of Elul is so well-suited for such
teshuvah?
The answer is, according to the Sod, Kabbalah, that the entire month of the month of Elul is
open to the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy or Thirteen Midot of Rachamim (El Rachum),
which are:
1. Hashem
2. Compassionate One
3. Gracious
4. Who is slow
5. To Anger
6. And abounding in kindness
7. And faithfulness
8. For thousands [of generations]
9. Bears iniquity
10. Sin
11. And transgression
12. And absolves [those who repent]

Generally speaking, throughout the year, these midot open only at unique and specific
times. For example, during Vidui of the weekday Tefillat Shacharit, directly after Shemoneh
Esreh or the Amidah. The purpose and elevation of these midot is to bring down Hashems
attribute of Rachamim on each person and on the world in its entirety. As a result, all of



Copyright 2014 Yeshivat haMekubalim Kol Yehudah vEliyahu All Rights Reserved
Hashems Thirteen Attributes are referred to as Midot haRachamim. This Rachamim comes
down as Ohr (light) from the world of haAtzilut. This Ohr resembles the Ohr of the Tefillat
Minchat of Shabbat; and the Ohr of Minchat Shabbat is the highest, most elevated Ohr
because it is the Ohr of the midat haRachamim.
However, theres a condition: At all times of the year, in order for one to receive this Ohr he
must daven Arvit, Shacharit, Musaf AND Mincha of Shabbat and as a result, we rise up in
order to receive this Ohr on Shabbat. During Chodesh Elul, contrastingly, this Ohr comes
down freely, twenty-four hours every day of the month. Therefore, during Selichot we have
5 times the Midot of Rachamin, Rachum, etc. And, as we know, it is said that during
Chodesh Elul The King is in the Fields . Or, as is said in Shir haShirim, Ani
lDodi, vDodi li the first letters of which spell ELUL.
And so, as we see, this month is the most opportune time of the entire year for teshuvah,
forgiveness, Rachamim (Mercy) and connection with our fellow Jews, our families, Am Israel
and HaKadosh Baruchu, by making a cheshbon nefesh (personal spiritual accounting and
take advantage of the Ohr that is actually energizing and awaiting our Jewish neshamot to
make teshuvah) and hence we can draw closer to Hashem and connect with His influence, to
bring upon ourselves and each other a Shana Tovah umetukah.
Translated from the original of haRav Yehudah Alfasi, shlita

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