Torah Calendar
7-20 Elul, 5785 Elul, 5785
August 31-September 13, 2025
For this week's study schedule & classes, CLICK HERE
Attributes of the month of Elul: Ruling permutation of the letters of HAVAYAH: KEH KEH VAV YOD, contained in the final Hebrew letters of the words of the verse ootzedakaH tihyeH lanOO kI "and it shall be righteousness to us when..." (Deut 6:25). The month's corresponding letter is: YOD; Human attribute: ACTION; Body Part: LEFT HAND ; Tribe: GAD; Constellation: BETULAH (Virgo, the Maiden).
Sunday September 14 / 21 Elul
Today the Ashkenazi communities begin to rise every weekday before the dawn until the eve of Yom Kippur for Selichot (penitential prayers), thereby joining their Sephardi brethren, who began rising for Selichot on Rosh Chodesh Elul. Some communities have the practice of reciting the Selichot on Saturday night starting about an hour before midnight, i.e. near the beginning of the middle "watch" of the night. Those who did not rise for Selichot at night or before dawn may recite them after daybreak prior to the daily Shacharit morning prayer. "A few supplications with kavanah (proper intention) are better than many without" (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayim, 1:4). Many have the custom of fasting on the first day of the Selichot. Those who are unable to fast from food may choose to observe a "fast from speaking", Ta'anit Dibbur.
During the Elul season of repentance, Israel are like the inhabitants of a city who go out to greet the King in the fields prior to His entry into the city (on Rosh Hashanah), and now each individual has the opportunity to approach the King in person in advance of the coming Day of Judgment. Everyone
who recites Psalm 27, "HaShem
is my light", morning
and evening from the beginning
of Elul until the end of Succot
is assured he will live out
his years in goodness and pleasantness,
and he removes from himself
all the accusing forces and
nullifies all harsh and evil
decrees, and he will win his
case in the Judgment. |
Tuesday night-Wednesday September 17-18 / 25 Elul
According to the opinion
of Rabbi Eliezer HaGadol, today is the Anniversary
of the first of the "Six Days of Creation",
which culminate on the first day of Rosh
HaShanah, the sixth day of Creation, when
Adam was created. On each of these six
days the unique light of the associated
Sefirah shines in all the worlds.
Today is the Yahrzeit of Rabbi Elazar son of Rabbi
Shimon bar Yochai.
The Holy Zohar states that at the end of days an awesome event will
take place on this date (Balak 212b).
Friday night-Saturday September
19-20 / 27 Elul
Shabbat Parshat NITZAVIM
Torah Reading: NITZAVIM:
Deuteronomy 29:9-30:20
Haftara: Isaiah
61:10-63:9.
This is the last Shabbat of the year, and we should make every effort to receive
this Shabbat with the greatest joy and devotion.
It is customary NOT to bless the coming month in the Synagogue after the Shabbat
Torah reading, "in order to outwit the satan" -- and in the case
of Tishri, "they bless it in heaven" instead. However those who have
the custom of reciting the entire book of Psalms on Shabbat Mevorchin also
do so on the Shabbat before Rosh Hashanah.
Saturday night-Sunday September 20-21 / 28 Elul
Anniversary of the death of King Saul and his three sons at the battle of Mt Gilboa.