Temple Beth Sholom
of Pascack Valley
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A Month of Mercy
In the generation of the Exodus from Egypt, Moses ascended MountSinai three times. The first was to receive the Torah. Thesecond was to plead with G-d for his forgiveness, after theJewish people sinned in worshipping the golden calf.Then, on the first day of Elul -- the month immediately precedingTishrei -- Moses ascended the mountain a third time, to invokeG-d's abundant mercy for our complete atonement. He remainedthere for forty days, until Yom Kippur, when G-d cleansed uscompletely, as though we had never sinned.
Since then, these days are marked as a special period of DivineGrace, during which our sincere prayers are sure to find favor inthe eyes of G-d.
Elul Observances
The Shofar is sounded every weekday morning, except on the lastday of Elul Erev Rosh Hashana. Psalm 27 (see below) is added tothe daily morning and afternoon prayers until Hoshaana Rabba.It is customary to give additional charity each weekday. On theSaturday night before Rosh Hashana, after midnight and on thefollowing weekday mornings including the day of Erev RoshHashana, Selichot (special penitential prayers) are recited.
During Elul, G-d -- the `King of the Universe' -- is available toanyone who turns to Him... and He graciously accepts our petitionsand grants our requests.
Elul is an appropriate time to reflect on our actions and attitudes of the previous year, and resolve to correct our shortcomings.
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