Podcasts about Elul

The first mishna of Pirkei Avos begins with attributing the first 900 years of the line of transmission of the Torah from Moshe at Sinai until the Men of the Great Assembly. The second sections is three teachings of those great men. What is the connection between these two parts and why was this chosen […]

התוכן ההוראה מהענין דראש חודש שאז הוא מולד הלבנה, היינו, שהלבנה מתחדשת ומתחילה להאיר, ומלילה לילה מתחזק אור הלבנה, אע"פ שהלבנה היא "המאור הקטן": לכל יהודי שנמשל ללבנה, ועליהם נאמר "מי יקום יעקב כי קטן הוא", ובפרט ילדי ישראל – קטנים כפשוטם, ונמצאים בלילי הגלות – נותן ה' כחות שיוכלו להאיר את העולם כולו, ולהוסיף בזה מיום ליום, ע"י "נר מצוה ותורה אור", כולל זה שמעמיד "שופטים ושוטרים" ב"שערים" שלו להשגיח שלא יכנסו דרכם ענינים בלתי רוציים – שעי"ז משפיע שגם ילד בקצה השני של העולם יתנהג כך. ובמיוחד בחודש אלול שהנהגת ה' אז היא ע"ד מלך הנמצא בשדה – שאפי' כשנמצאים ב"שדה", בזמן הגלות, שאז "ציון שדה תחרש" – יוצא ה' לשם ונמצא שם עם כאו"א באופן ד"באור פני מלך חיים". וע"י קיום הוראות הנ"ל נזכה במהרה לקיום היעוד "שהם עתידין להתחדש כמותה, "נאו"!משיחת יום ג' פ' שופטים, בדר"ח אלול ה'תשמ"א, לילדים (ד"קרית גן ישראל") ולילדות (דמחנה "אמונה"), "צבאום השם", שיחיו ל"הנחה פרטית" או התרגום ללה"ק של השיחה: https://thedailysicha.com/?date=14-08-2026 Synopsis On Rosh Chodesh the moon reappears and begins shine, growing stronger from night to night. Similarly, although the verse states, “How will Yaakov (the Jewish people, who are compared to the moon) arise, for he is small,” (especially young children, who are small in the literal sense), and although they are in exile (“night”), nevertheless Hashem grants them the strength to illuminate the entire world and to increase in light from day to day. They do this through the “lamp of a mitzvah and light of Torah is light,” including by “appointing judges and officers” at one's own “gates” to ensure that no undesirable influences enter through them. In this way they inspire other children – even at the other end of the world – to conduct themselves this way, too. Especially during the month of Elul, when “the King is in the field”: Even when the Jewish people are in the “field” of exile because “Tzion is plowed like a field,” Hashem is with them, and “In the light of the King's countenance there is life.” By carrying out these directives, we merit the fulfillment of the promise that the Jewish people “are destined to be renewed like the moon” – and it will happen now.Excerpt from sichah of Tuesday, parashas Shoftim, 2nd day of Rosh Chodesh Elul 5741 – to the campers of Gan Yisroel and Camp Emunah For a transcript in English of the Sicha: https://thedailysicha.com/?date=14-08-2026

www.dailybreadmoms.com Now coming to busy moms all over the world as a daily podcast! Daily Bread follows the weekly Torah Portion, one part each day, together with a healthy balance from the rest of Scripture — all in one year. More than just a one-year Bible reading plan, Daily Bread is designed as a journal, with a comprehensive Hebrew calendar. To support the podcast - www.patreon.com/dailybreadmoms Check out the Daily Bread Torah Class, LIVE from Israel! Join anytime. larsenarson.com/torah The Journals are available here: arielmedia.shop/

The magical month of Elul holds so many possibilities for blessing, as long as we reach out and grab onto the Hand that is being extended our our direction! Pull Up A Chair 13AUG2026 - PODCAST

Parashat Shofetim begins with the command, "Shofetim Ve'shoterim Titen Lecha Be'chol She'arecha" – "You shall place for yourselves judges and enforcers in all your gates." This establishes the Biblical obligation to appoint in every city ("in all your gates") courts to determine the laws, and officials to enforce them. The verse later adds, "LI'shbatecha" – "for your tribes," which the Sages understood as a requirement to appoint a higher court for each tribe (see Rashi and Ramban). Surprisingly, this command is presented in the singular form – "Lecha," "She'arecha." Although the Torah here addresses itself to the entire nation, commanding the appointment of judges in every city, and over every tribe, this imperative is formulated such that it is directed toward every individual. Rav Haim Vital (1543-1620) explained that the Torah is alluding here to the obligation upon each and every individual to appoint "judges" and "enforcers" for all "She'arecha" – all the "gates" to his being. This means exercising care and discretion when deciding what we allow ourselves to see, to hear and to eat. It meant "judging" and scrutinizing ourselves, and "enforcing" our own compliance with the Torah's laws and the Torah's principles. Rav Haim Vital here is making a crucial point that cannot be overemphasized – that we must judge and govern ourselves before we try to judge and govern others. Many people happily volunteer for the position of "judge" over their city, and over their community, to criticize this person or that person, this institution or that institution, this policy or that policy. They also happily volunteer for the person of "enforcer," to tell people what they're doing wrong. Rav Haim Vital is teaching us to criticize ourselves before we criticize others, to put our own lives in order before we try to fix all the world's problems, or even all the community's problems. In the next verse, the Torah turns to the appointed judge and commands, "Lo Tateh Mishpat" – "Do not distort the judgment." In reference to judges sitting on the court, this means that a judge may not rule with favoritism, applying distorted logic in order to reach a decision in favor of the litigant of his preference. But this is true also of our "judgment" of ourselves. We are naturally inclined to find fault in others but not in ourselves. When it comes to our own behavior, we have a tendency to "distort" our reasoning, to find excuses for ourselves, to come up with justifications for things we should not have done. About this judgment, too, the Torah commands, "Lo Tateh Mishpat" – that we must judge ourselves objectively and honestly, uncomfortable as this can sometimes be. Returning to this Parasha's opening verse, the first letters of the word "Lecha Li'shbatecha Ve'shafetu Et" (Lamed, Lamed, Vav, Alef) are the letters of the word "Elul." And, sure enough, Parashat Shofetim is always read at the beginning of the month of Elul. The message being conveyed is that this month is about judging and scrutinizing ourselves, with brutal honesty. Elul is the time to stop trying to change the world, to point out all the problems other people are making, and to redirect our attention to ourselves, to the things that we need to improve.

Class #16: The Emuna of Elul and Making Teshuva from Love & Joy

התוכן העבודה דחודש אלול (גם) כוללת בתוכה את כל השנה הבעל"ט, כולל ימים הנוראים וימים טובים וכו'! וכמבואר בלקו"ת בד"ה אני לדודי ודודי לי, שאז נמשכות מלמעלה האהבה ויראה לכל השנה! וזהו החידוש בהמשכת הי"ג מדות הרחמים בחודש אלול על המשכת י"ג מדות הרחמים במשך כל השנה – שבחודש אלול ה"ז (גם) בנוגע לחיי הנשמה. ולכאו' אלו ענינים הכי נעליים, ואיך אפשר לכאו"א להגיע לזה, ובפרט שה"ה ימות החול?! הנה זהו מה שמבאר שם, שזהו מפני שדוקא "בימות החול" אלו בא המלך בעצמו לכאו"א, גם לנמצאים "בשדה", "וכל הרוצה" יכול לגשת אליו וכו'. ומוסיף שם עוד יותר: שגם מהנמצאים "במדבר" לגריעותא, מתחננת ומצווה ומבטיחה תורה "ובקשתם משם את ה"א – ומצאת"! – עשיית התשובה.ב' חלקים משיחת מוצש"ק פ' ראה, מבה"ח אלול ה'תשל"ט ל"הנחה פרטית" או התרגום ללה"ק של השיחה: https://thedailysicha.com/?date=13-08-2026 Synopsis The service of the month of Elul encompasses the entire coming year, including the High Holy Days and Yomim Tovim etc. As explained in Likkutei Torah in the maamar Ani LeDodi VeDodi Li, during the month of Elul we draw down love and awe of Hashem for the entire year. This is the unique quality of the revelation of the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy during Elul as compared with their revelation during the rest of the year: in Elul, the revelation relates not only to one's physical life but also to the life of the soul. Seemingly, being that these are such lofty spiritual levels, how is it possible for every Jew to attain them, especially being that the days of Elul are ordinary weekdays? But the maamar explains that it is specifically during these ordinary weekdays that the King Himself comes to every Jew, even to those who are “in the field,” and whoever desires may approach Him. Moreover, the Torah pleads with, commands, and promises every Jew, even those in the lowly spiritual state of a “desert,” that “From there you will seek Hashem, your G-d, and you will find Him…” – referring to the service of teshuvah.2 excerpts from sichah of Motzaei Shabbos parashas Re'eh, Mevorchim Elul 5739 For a transcript in English of the Sicha: https://thedailysicha.com/?date=13-08-2026

1. Bereishit & Days of Divine Will From the Sefer Agra d'Kala (5a), we learn that if we rearrange the letters of the word Bereishit ( בראשית ), it reveals profound messages. One anagram spells: א לול י מי ר צון ת שובו ב תשובה ש למה ( Elul yemei ratzon, tshuvu bi'tshuva shleimah — "Elul is a time of Divine favor; return with complete repentance" ). (Note: The first letters spell אי"ר תב"ש , an anagram of Bereishit). 2. The Lion that Roars A verse in Amos (3:8) states: א ריה ש אג מ י ל א י ירא , ה ׳ א לוהים ד בר מ י ל א י נבא ( "A lion has roared; who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken; who will not prophesy?" ). Who is this lion that roars? The lion refers to the month of Av , whose astrological sign ( mazal ) is Leo (the lion). However, taking the word Aryeh ( אריה —lion) and rearranging its letters yields: א — Elul , ר — Rosh Hashanah , י — Yom Kippur , ה — Hoshana Rabbah . What appears to be a scary lion is actually a progression of auspicious days to turn our spiritual standing around. The Parable of the Father in Disguise (from Rav Shimshon Pinchas): A father dresses up on Purim wearing a scary lion's head over his body. Seeing the terrifying lion, his young child runs away in fear. Then, recognizing his father's clothes, the child grabs his father's legs and cries, "Father, save me from the lion!" The month of Av can look like a scary lion, but it is really our Father in disguise. From Elul through Hoshana Rabbah, we peel back the disguise to see our Loving Father underneath. 3. The Pure Maiden ( Betulah ) and the Luz Bone The Sfat Emet (Parshat Vayelech) notes that the mazal of Elul is Betulah (a maiden/virgin). The Spiritual Untouched Core: Just as a maiden remains untouched, every Jewish person possesses a core within the depths of their soul that was never corrupted by negative forces—a part dedicated purely to God. While it is often hard to access, Elul is the time when we can find and reconnect with this pure spot. The Luz Bone Connection: This concept mirrors the Luz bone in the human body. Our Sages teach that when mankind sinned by eating from the Tree of Knowledge, death was introduced to every part of the body nourished by food. However, God instituted a safety plan: the Luz bone receives its nourishment solely from the meal eaten on Motzei Shabbat ( Seuda Revi'it ). Because it was never nourished by sin, it never decomposes and serves as the seed from which the body resurrects during Techiyat HaMetim . The Spiritual Luz : In time, the Arizal explains that just as the Luz bone is an untainted point in the physical body, Yom Kippur is the Luz in time—the day that remains pure and allows us to rejuvenate. Yom Kippur acts as the spiritual counterpart to Tisha B'Av (which corresponds to the Gid HaNasheh ). In space, the Ramchal tells us in physical space is the Kotel HaMa'aravi (Western Wall), which can never be destroyed. 4. Reading Nafelah in a New Light In Amos (5:2), there is a difficult verse that is omitted from the Ashrei prayer due to its negative association: נ פלה לא תוסיף קום בתולת ישראל ( "She has fallen, she will no longer rise, the maiden of Israel" ). However, Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Shklov ( Sefer Tmunat HaOtiot , p. 290) notes that the Sages read this verse with a different cadence and hope: נפלה, לא תוסיף [ לנפול ] — קום, בתולת ישראל ! ( "She has fallen, but she will fall no more—arise, maiden (Betulah/Elul) of Israel!" ). You have fallen to the lowest point possible; now, during the month of Betulah (Elul), it is time to arise and transform everything. 5. Spiritual Heart Surgery & Divine Assistance In Devarim (30:6), the Torah promises: ו מל ה ׳ א לוה i ך א ת ל בבך ו את ל בב ז רעך ( "And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart, and the heart of your offspring..." ). The initials of א ת ל בבך ו את ל בב spell ELUL ( אלול ). How does Elul connect to circumcising the heart? Rabbeinu Yonah ( Shaarei Teshuvah , Gate 1) opens his classic work by stating that God actively helps those who attempt to return beyond their natural capabilities, instilling in them a spirit of purity to reach true love of God. Non-Invasive Heart Surgery: God offers spiritual heart surgery—removing spiritual blockages and placing "stents" in our hearts. However, this process begins with our initiative: first, "And you shall return to the Lord your God," and then "God will circumcise your heart." The Magnet Analogy: A man is asked to jump high into the air. On his own, he can only jump so high—but as soon as he leaps, a powerful magnet above lifts him the rest of the way. When we make the initial move, God pulls us up. I Am My Beloved's: This echoes the iconic Elul acronym from Song of Songs (6:3): א ני ל דודי ו דודי ל י ( Ani LeDodi VeDodi Li — "I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine" ). The Pri Tzaddik (Rosh Chodesh Elul, #2) explains: If I take the first step toward God ( Ani LeDodi ), then God responds by drawing close and refining my heart ( VeDodi Li ). The Hole of a Needle: As the Midrash ( Shir HaShirim Rabbah ) states in God's Name: "My children, open up for Me an opening of repentance as small as the eye of a needle, and I will open for you gates wide enough for wagons to enter." The Chofetz Chaim ( Zechor L'Miriam , Ch. 18) reassures us that God never places demands upon us that exceed our capabilities; He simply asks us to do what we can. 6. Lulei — Do Not Delay In Tehillim (27:13), recited throughout the High Holiday season, it says: לולא האמנתי לראות בטוב ה׳ בארץ חיים ( "Had I not (Lulei) believed that I would see the goodness of God in the land of the living..." ). The word Lulei ( לולא / לולי ) read backward spells Elul ( אלול ). Psalm 27 contains allusions to the entire season: "The Lord is my light" — Rosh Hashanah ; "And my salvation" — Yom Kippur ; "He will hide me in His pavilion" — Sukkot . To experience all these revelations, we need the preparation of Elul ( Lulei ). Furthermore, the Siftei Kohen (Rabbi of Aleppo, ~400 years ago) notes on Bereishit 44:14 that the word Lulei connects to Yehuda's words to Yosef: לולי התמהמהנו ( "Had we not delayed..." ). The Message of Lulei : Don't delay! When Elul arrives, do not wait until Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur to begin your spiritual work—start immediately. The Escaped Prisoner: Rabbeinu Yonah ( Shaarei Teshuvah , Letter 2) notes that when a person delays Teshuvah , their accountability increases. It is like a prisoner whose cell door is unlocked: if he remains inside, it shows he is comfortable in his captivity. The 40-Day Journey The 40 days of favor—from Rosh Chodesh Elul through Yom Kippur—begin at the very start of Rosh Chodesh (starting 30 Av / 1 Elul). An allusion to these 40 days is found in the final letters of אני לדודי ודודי לי : אנ י (10) + לד ود י (10) + ודוד י (10) + ל י (10) = 40 days. May we all take full advantage of these holy days of Elul and draw closer to Hakadosh Baruch Hu .

In this Elul shiur, Reb Joey explores teshuvah not as a return driven by fear, shame, or self-judgment, but as a movement back toward the love and closeness that have never truly disappeared. Through teachings of Rebbe Nachman and the tzaddikim, we discover the surprising role of laughter, joy, and lightness in breaking through the heaviness of the year—and in remembering that every descent can become the beginning of a deeper return to Hashem.Series page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://inwardtorah.org/series/tanya⁠⁠Support Reb Joey's Torah: ⁠⁠⁠https://inwardtorah.org/support⁠⁠

Rosh Chodesh Elul 5786

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The different symbols and spiritual attributes of a Hebrew month usually offer multiple perspectives on a common theme. Elul is different. Its permutation of Hashem's Name, letter, mazal, tribe, faculty, and bodily faculty unfold as a sequence, creating a practical step-by-step framework for teshuvah. Together, they show us how to recover the energy that became misdirected in the past year and redirect it toward growth in the year ahead.Join the Conversation! Be part of our growing community—join the Shema Podcast for the Perplexed WhatsApp group to share feedback, discuss episodes, and suggest future topics. Click here to sign up.

The new month of Elul is upon us, and this week's Torah portion of parashat Shoftim (Deut. 16:18) always falls out at the beginning of this month. The powerful subjects in this Torah portion-- judgement, self-discipline, leadership, prophecy, refuge, warfare and more-- all have spiritual dimensions that can be turned inward. The confluence of Rosh Chodesh Elul with this portion, challenges us to examine institutions that are ordinarily understood on a national level, and discover their echo beckoning to the soul of each individual. Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman share their thoughts on the great spiritual challenges and goals of this last month of the year. ________________________________________________________________________________Rabbi Richman writes on Substack about Parashat Shoftim and the Month of Elul:https://chaimrichman.substack.com/p/m...https://chaimrichman.substack.com/p/p..._________Rabbi Chaim Richman Jerusalem Lights | Torah for Everyone Follow Rabbi Richman on Substack: https://substack.com/@chaimrichmanJoin our new WhatsApp channel! https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbDN...Rabbi Chaim Richman's 'Jerusalem Lights', a non-profit educational organization, shares the wisdom of Torah teachings with all sincere spiritual seekers, emphasizing the ennoblement of the human spirit, the brotherhood of mankind, and the nurturing and development of each individual's personal faith and relationship with the Creator. Torah for Everyone!If you enjoy these videos, please consider supporting the work of Jerusalem Lights, Inc., a USA recognized 501 ( c ) 3 non-profit organization to enable these productions to continue and grow: PayPal: infojerusalemlights@gmail.com or: https://paypal.me/JerusalemLights?loc...In the USA: Jerusalem Lights Inc. Post Office Box 16886Lubbock Texas 79490In Israel: Tel. 972 54 7000395 Mail: PO Box 23808, Jerusalem Israel For more information: https://www.jerusalemlights.org Subscribe to our YouTube channel:    / @jerusalemlights-rabbirichman  Follow us on Facebook:   / rabbichaimrichman    / 282440396475839  

Lamed Av - Rosh Chodesh Elul (20:22)

This exciting story is a translation and adaptation of an old Chassidic parable, first told by Rebbe Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev some 250 years ago. Last year, the Melitzer Rebbe shlit'a retold in the original Yiddish at his Shabbat table. Hidden within the parable are the secrets of the shofar, Elul, and Rosh Hashanah.

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*אלול*❤️‍

Our Portion in Torah Returns us to our True Selves - The Elul Shofar awakens our real Victory - Learning weekly Pri Tzaddick by Rav Tzaddok Hakohen at Shirat David Efrat...Cover

The Rebbe writes as Elul approaches, focusing on the daily recitation of 'Hashem Ori Veyishi' and its connection to the promise of the Third Temple and the return of the Shechinah. He cites Bachya, as quoted by the tzt"z, regarding King David's words. https://www.torahrecordings.com/rebbe/igroskodesh/017/011/6465

The Rebbe writes about the approach of Elul, a month of mercy, referencing the verse 'Hashem is my light and salvation' as a promise of redemption. He advises that in matters of Chabad sofrut, tradition passed directly from scribe to scribe is essential. https://www.torahrecordings.com/rebbe/igroskodesh/017/011/6464

Today marks the beginning of Elul, the final Hebrew month before the Jewish new year — but it is so much more.

Elul the perfect time to attract your soulmate and how to do the 40 day challenge

The month of Elul is a “city of refuge” in time—a period of honest self-examination and teshuvah, in which each person is given the opportunity to redirect his life-force toward holiness by taking refuge in Torah study. This class, taught by Rabbi Shais Taub, is based on Shoftim in Likkutei Sichos Vol. 2.

Rabbi Jacobson will discuss the following topics: What should be our focus during these days as we transition from Av to Elul? Why is Elul a special month?  How do we maximize its opportunities? What is our main work this month? What is its personal relevance in our lives? What lessons do we learn from living with the times, with this week's Torah parsha? What is the connection between Shoftim and Elul? Why does the Torah prohibit sorcery and witchcraft? How is it different from a doctor? Can this be applied to going to shamans today for plant medicine ceremonies? Why were those exiled to the cities of refuge freed upon the passing of the High Priest? What does this teach us about current leaders? What lessons do we learn from the Eglah Arufah? Why is a king prohibited from buying many horses? How does this apply today? Why did the Shaloh ask his son not to build a house more opulent than his needs?  Why did the Rebbe reject a new car?Should we pray based on our merits or asking for G-d's favor? Follow-up Shoftim Vaetchanan Who named it Camp Gan Israel? What was the relationship between Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz and the Rebbe?  Are we allowed to take off our yarmulkas for any reason?   How can I encourage my spouse to stop speaking negatively about one of our children to another child? 

Elul prep

Excuses can sound smart, compassionate, even responsible, until you realize they're costing you your life. As Elul arrives and Rosh Hashanah gets closer, we challenge the most common habit we all share: explaining away the gap between what we hoped to do and what we actually did. We bring it back to a simple, uncomfortable question we'll all face: what did we do with the time, talents, energy, and money we were given this past year?We also push back on the popular idea that modern life makes spiritual growth impossible. Yes, the internet is distracting and AI is everywhere. But we argue something stronger: teshuva, repentance, Torah learning, and personal change are more attainable than at any point in history if we add one ingredient discipline. Torah is available in English and many languages. Learning can happen through audiobooks. Help exists for mental health, parenting, finances, and community needs. Access is not the problem anymore; follow-through is.Finally, we get practical about momentum. We talk about hergel naaseh teva, how repeating a hard action turns it into a habit, and why “start today” is not a slogan but a strategy. If you've been carrying a laundry list of reasons, this is your reminder to set it down, choose one next step, and do it.Subscribe for more, share this with someone who's ready to level up for Elul, and leave a review. What's the one excuse you're done making before Rosh Hashanah?Support the showJoin The Motivation Congregation WhatsApp community for daily motivational Torah content!----------------SUBSCRIBE to The Weekly Parsha for an insightful weekly talk on the week's Parsha.Listen on Spotify or 24six!Access all Torah talks and listen to featured episodes on our website, themotivationcongregation.org----------------Questions or Comments? Please email me @ michaelbrooke97@gmail.com

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The Truth of Eating aka Kedushat Achilah, Wealth aka not lacking, Living in the Holy Land the land of Emmet, Tefilin bechinas Yaakov Avinu and Kedushot Hamitzvos - Likutei Moharan 47 Learning From Rebbe Nachman ben Faiga Simcha weekly at Shirat David. Dedicated by Ezra For refuah sheleima for his mother Chana Sima bas Chaya TobahCover

Email your pictures to orlofsky59@gmail.comSponsored By: Lynn & Svi GrossmanThe sponsorship is dedicated in memory of Chaim ben Shmuel whose yurzeit is ז אב.

What does it mean to live like the royal being you were created to be? On this week's episode of The Seth Leibson Show, Rabbi Pinchas Allouche joins Seth in studio for a wide-ranging and deeply moving conversation rooted in the Torah portion Re'eh — "See."Drawing on the life and teachings of his beloved mentor, the legendary Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz — whom Time Magazine called "a once-in-a-millennium scholar" — Rabbi Allouche shares unforgettable lessons on how to find a true mentor, why action leads the heart more than feeling does, and what it truly means to be humble. They explore the eternal battle between the body and the soul, the life-changing power of a single smile, and why perspective may be the most important skill any of us can cultivate.The episode closes with a timely message for the month of Elul: go inward, search honestly, and discover the divine spark waiting to guide you — because like the son of King Louis XVI, when temptation calls, the answer is simply: "I was born to be a king."A conversation that is at once intellectually rich and deeply human — don't miss it.Rabbi Pinchas Allouche is the Founding Rabbi of Congregation Beth Tefillah in Scottsdale, Arizona. Through timeless Torah wisdom and practical life lessons, he inspires listeners to live with greater faith, purpose, and joy. Subscribe for weekly insights on the Torah portion, Jewish thought, and living a meaningful life.Thank you for listening. If this episode inspired you, please follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with someone who could benefit from its message. To learn more about Rabbi Pinchas Allouche and Congregation Beth Tefillah, visit Rabbi Allouche on social media www.congregationbethtefillahaz.org

Nations and the media accuse us of disproportionate responses. Hashem runs the world measure for measure. Could it be that we unjustly accuse Him of the same? Here is an important message for the upcoming month of Elul.

SHOFTIMJudge ThyselfParshas Shoftim coincides with the beginning of the month of Elul and opens with the command to appoint judges and officers "in all your gates" and the emphasis on the singular (lecha) points inward: the real courtroom is a person's own mind, and the real gates are sight, hearing, smell, and speech, the points where the outside world first makes contact with the self.Another lesson that is gleaned from this mitzvah is as a call to judge oneself before judging others, since most conflict comes from holding one standard for our own behavior and a stricter one for everyone else's.The central idea, though, is that self-control works best as prevention rather than as a fight fought after the fact: once a trigger has already reached awareness and stirred up desire, willpower rarely wins, so the wiser move is to keep the trigger from entering in the first place, whether that means what a person looks at, listens to, or even allows himself to dwell on in thought.

What happens when we have the courage to really see what is before us—the blessing, the curse, and everything in between? Re'eh invites us to look up, pay attention, and enter Elul and this season with our eyes and hearts wide open.

An important message about caring for others to bzH succeed in having a successful Elul

We often imagine teshuvah as going backward—to the person we were before we failed, became cynical, or compromised something inside ourselves. But if teshuvah simply meant retracing our steps, why does the letter ה contain a second opening?The Gemara teaches that this world was created with the letter ה: a wide opening below through which anyone may leave, and a smaller, higher opening through which the person who returns is brought back inside.A person can leave alone. She cannot return alone.In this shiur, delivered in NCSY Michlet, Rav Burg explains why teshuvah was never meant to be a religious self-improvement project powered by shame and willpower. The first movement must come from us—בא לטהר. But once we begin turning toward Hashem, He joins us. He does not demand that we clean ourselves up before returning. The cleansing takes place inside the relationship.And we do not return to the people we once were. We enter through a higher opening, carrying a humility and longing we could not have possessed before. Hashem does not welcome us back as tolerated guests.He crowns us.Our return becomes His crown.

Learning Weekly from Lessons in Tanya chapter 48 we begin to further discuss how The Tzimtzum is Good. The King from Parshat Shoftim an aspect of Moach sholet Al Halev, Shines the Light of Chabad and Abundant Rachamim aka Mercy - at Shirat David Efrat erev Chodesh Elul... Ty Bnei-Aliyah.com for the Tanya Summary... Ty to all the recent sponsors specifically R Ezra etc... Cover

התוכן ישנם כאלו המנצלים חודש אלול להטיף מוסר לבנ"י ש"כל הנוגע בהם כאילו נוגע בבבת עינו של הקב"ה"! ועאכו"כ בחודש אלול ש"המלך בשדה" דרושה זהירות לא לדבר דברים קשים על בנ"י ח"ו אלא ללמד זכות עליהם, שעי"ז ילמדו זכות עליו.. והרי הוא זקוק לרחמי הקב"ה שלא יביט על הנהגתו במשך השנה באופן של "רודף שלמונים" ורדיפת כבוד וכו' – ואעפ"כ לא מצא זמן אחר לדבר דברים קשים על בנ"י אלא בחודש אלול דוקא, ומנצל לזה את הזמן שהתאספו יחד לשמוע דבר ה'! ומה שטוען שיכול להיות שהקב"ה הטיל עליו את התפקיד לומר מוסר... הנה הבחינה בדבר מובנת עפ"י הסיפור שמביא הצ"צ בד"מ אודות ר' מענדל בארער שלא הי' אומר מוסר אא"כ היו נותנים לו נדבה, מכיון שבעצם אין מקום לומר מוסר לבנו יחידו של ממה"מ הקב"ה, אלא דמכיון שמצוה עליו לפרנס ב"ב, וה' הזמין לו בהשג"פ פרנסתו ע"י אמירת מוסר, אזי אין לו ברירה ומוכרח לומר מוסר. אבל להמתין ולצפות מתי יבוא כבר חודש אלול ויוכל להטיף מוסר לבנ"י – מצב כזה לא הי' לעולמים!!משיחת יום א' פ' ראה, כ"א מנחם-אב ה'תשד"מ ל"הנחה פרטית" או התרגום ללה"ק של השיחה: https://thedailysicha.com/?date=09-08-2026 Synopsis There are those who take advantage of the month of Elul to rebuke other Jews etc., but who are they to do so when the Jewish people are considered “the apple of the eye of the Holy One, blessed be He”?! One must be careful not to speak harshly about Jews chas v'shalom, especially in the month of Elul, when one should judge Jews favorably so that he himself will be judged favorably, especially one who needs Hashem to overlook his conduct of chasing after honor and “pursuing bribes” throughout the year etc. Yet they specifically choose the month of Elul to speak harshly of Jews, taking advantage of an occasion when people gather to be inspired etc. And if one argues that Hashem has assigned him this task of delivering rebuke – he should learn from a story the Tzemach Tzedek writes in Derech Mitzvosecha: Reb Mendel Barer was gifted with oratory skills, and when he traveled to Jewish communities, he would be asked to deliver mussar. But he would agree only on condition that he was paid for it. He explained: Really, there is no basis for rebuking Jews, who are the only child of Hashem. Nevertheless, since he has an obligation to support his family, and Hashem arranged by Hashgacha Pratis that his livelihood should come through delivering musar, he has no choice but to do so. But to wait and look forward to the month of Elul so that one can rebuke other Jews is unheard of.Excerpt from sichah of Sunday, parashas Re'eh, 21 Menachem-Av 5744 For a transcript in English of the Sicha: https://thedailysicha.com/?date=09-08-2026 לע”נ ר' משה ב"ר ניסן ע"ה ליום היארצייט שלו כ"ה מנחם-אב. ת.נ.צ.ב.ה.נדבת בנו ר' ניסן שי' פרידמן

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התוכן כשנכנסים לעש"ק מבה"ח אלול יש לעורר אודות התחלת העבודה דחודש אלול – "אני לדודי ודודי לי", שזהו ענין כללי הנוגע לכל פרטי עבודת האדם. ומכיון שכדי שיהי' "ודודי לי" ה"ז תלוי ב"אני לדודי" כדבעי, יש לנצל כדרוש את ימי ההכנה לש"ק; הקשר דפ' ראה לגאולה כי אז תהי' לימוד התורה באופן של ראי', "והיו עיניך רואות את מוריך"; הסיום בשליחות מצוה לצדקה, שקשורה ביציאה מן הגלות – "ציון במשפט תפדה ושבי' בצדקה". ויה"ר שיקויים מיד מ"ש "ראה אנכי נותן לפניכם וגו'".שיחת כ"ג אור לכ"ד מנחם-אב, אור לעש"ק פ' ראה, מבה"ח אלול ה'תשמ"ט ל"הנחה פרטית" או התרגום ללה"ק של השיחה: https://thedailysicha.com/?date=07-08-2026 Synopsis Erev Shabbos Mevorchim Elul is a time to think about the month of Elul and the service of Ani l'dodi v'dodi li, which is a general principle that encompasses every aspect of a person's Divine service. Since “my Beloved is mine” depends upon the first part of the verse, “I am my Beloved's,” the days leading up to this Shabbos should be utilized properly. The connection between parashas Re'eh (“See…”) and the Redemption is that when Moshiach comes, we will study Torah in a manner seeing, as it is written: “…and your eyes will see your Teacher.” We will conclude by appointing everyone as a shliach for tzedakah, which hastens the Redemption, as the verse states, “Tzion will be redeemed with justice, and her captives with tzedakah.” May it be Hashem's will that we immediately merit the fulfillment of the verse, “See, I am setting before you today....”Sichah of Thursday night, 24 Menachem-Av 5749 For a transcript in English of the Sicha: https://thedailysicha.com/?date=07-08-2026 לזכות חי' שרה בת נינה שתחי' וויינבוים ליום ההולדת שלה כ"ד מנחם-אבלשנת ברכה והצלחה‏, ואריכות ימים ושנים טובות*לזכות מרת שושנה בת גיטל שתחי' ליום ההולדת שלה כ"ד מנחם-אב - לשנת ברכה והצלחה, ואריכות ימים ושנים טובות

The Journey Parashat Re'eh concludes with the Misva known as Aliya Le'regel – appearing before G-d in the Bet Ha'mikdash three times each year, on the holidays of Pesach, Shabuot and Sukkot. The Gemara in Masechet Hagiga (3a) makes a comment that sheds light on the nature of this Misva, and on the vital lesson that it teaches us. King Shelomo exclaims in Shir Hashirim (7:2), "Ma Yafu Fe'amayich Ba'ne'alim, Bat Nadib" – literally, "How beautiful are your steps in shoes, the daughter of the generous one." The Gemara interprets this verse as a reference to the journey that Beneh Yisrael would take to the Jerusalem before the holidays for the Misva of Aliya Le'regel. And the expression "Bat Nadib" ("daughter of the generous one") means that Beneh Yisrael are the descendants of Abraham Abinu, who was called "Nadib," as he was exceptionally generous and giving. The Gemara here seems to draw a comparison between two journeys: Beneh Yisrael's journey to the Bet Ha'mikdash for the holidays, and Abraham Abinu's journey. On one level, this refers to Abraham Abinu's journey from his homeland to Eretz Yisrael, about which the Midrash teaches that Abraham received reward for each and every step. Abraham's journey was not merely a means to an end, a practical necessity to fulfill G-d's command to settle in Eretz Yisrael. Rather, the journey itself was inherently meaningful and valuable, and he thus earned reward for each step. Likewise, Beneh Yisrael's journey to the Bet Ha'mikdash was itself a Misva. Indeed, we call this Misva "Aliya Le'regel" – going to the Bet Ha'mikdash for the holiday, emphasizing the process of "Aliya," of journeying. The Misva was to undertake the journey, to make the effort, to go through the trouble of going to appear before Hashem. On a deeper level, when the Gemara mentions Abraham Abinu in the context of the people's journey to Jerusalem, it refers to his journey through life. The Rambam writes that Abraham was born into a family of idolaters, and he himself worshipped idols. At the age of 3, Abraham began questioning and inquiring, thinking about the world, how it came into being, and who governs it. This theological journey which began at the age of 3 continued for 37 years, as it was only at the age of 40 that Abraham arrived at the belief in a single Creator. The journey of Aliya Le'regel parallels Abraham Abinu's extraordinary spiritual journey, his lengthy, step-by-step process of growth – because Aliya Le'regel, too, is a process of spiritual preparation. A person cannot simply appear before Hashem in the Bet Ha'mikdash without first preparing himself. The "footsteps," the trek to Jerusalem, was an obligatory process of growth, of putting oneself in the proper mindset to appear before Hashem in the Bet Ha'mikdash. The Kabbalists teach that the domain of place parallels the domain of time. The Bet Ha'mikdash, the most sacred place on earth, parallels the Yamim Noraim – the period of the High Holidays, the most sacred days of the year. Yom Kippur, the apex of this period, corresponds to the Kodesh Ha'kodashim, the inner sanctum of the Bet Ha'mikdash, whereas Rosh Hashanah, the onset of this period, is represented by the Azara, the courtyard of the Bet Ha'mikdash where the people would assemble on the three pilgrimage festivals. It emerges, then, that the period of Elul – the month of preparation for Rosh Hashanah – parallels "Aliya Le'regel," the journey to the Bet Ha'mikdash. The month that we begin this coming week is a time of journeying, of growth, of "Aliya" – elevation, lifting ourselves higher, so we come prepared to the "Bet Ha'mikdash," to Rosh Hashanah, when we stand before the Almighty for judgment. It is no coincidence that Parashat Re'eh is always read on the Shabbat preceding Rosh Hodesh Elul. Throughout the Book of Debarim, Moshe Rabbenu is preparing the people for life in the Land of Israel. But in this Parasha, for the first time, he speaks of "the place which G-d shall choose" – referring to the Bet Ha'mikdash. In this Parasha, Moshe prepares the people for the Bet Ha'mikdash, explaining what his special site is and the special laws pertaining to it. This is precisely what the month of Elul is all about – preparing ourselves for the "Bet Ha'mikdash" of time, for Rosh Hashanah, by growing and lifting ourselves, one beautiful "footstep" at a time, bringing us ever closer to Hashem and to spiritual greatness.

התוכן חמישי דפ' ראה מתחיל עם "עשר תעשר וגו'", דקאי על כללות ענין המעשרות, שזהו כללות ענין הצדקה. כללות ענין הצדקה פועל אחוה ושלום בין אדם לחבירו, שעי"ז נפעל ענין האחוה ושלום בכללות עם ישראל, וכאשר עם ישראל נמצא במצב של אחוה ושלום, הנה אפי' אם מעמדם ומצבם הם שלא כדבעי, מ"מ הולכים למלחמה ונוצחין – הן בנוגע למלחמה עם היצה"ר והן בנוגע למלחמה כפשוטה, ובאופן ששוללים מלכתחילה את האפשרות לענין של מלחמה וכו'. "עת רצון" זה קשור גם עם ההכנה לחודש אלול, שאז, כמ"ש אדה"ז בלקו"ת פ' ראה, נמצא "המלך" לידו, אפי' אם הוא במצב של "שדה" (ברוחניות), שזה פועל שינוי עיקרי בכללות ההנהגה וכו'.משיחת יום ה' פ' ראה, ז"ך מנחם-אב ה'תשמ"א ‏–‏ "תענית שעות", בבית הכנסת לאחרי תפלת מנחה ל"הנחה פרטית" או התרגום ללה"ק של השיחה: https://thedailysicha.com/?date=06-08-2026 Synopsis Chamishi of parashas Re'eh begins with the verse, “You must tithe...,” an expression of tzedakah, which brings peace and unity between one person and another and among the Jewish people as a whole. When the Jewish people are united, even if their spiritual state is not as it should be, they are victorious in battle, both in physical battle and in the battle against the yetzer hara, and moreover, their victory is such that the whole possibility of war is precluded from the outset. This Time of Favor is also associated with the preparation for the month of Elul, when “The King is in the field,” meaning Hashem is close to a Jew even if he is in the spiritual state of a “field,” and Hashem's closeness causes a fundamental change in one's overall conduct (as the Alter Rebbe writes in Likkutei Torah on parashas Re'eh).Excerpt from sichah of Thursday, parashas Re'eh, 27 Menachem-Av 5741 (designated a partial fast day) – after Mincha For a transcript in English of the Sicha: https://thedailysicha.com/?date=06-08-2026 לע”נ הרה"ח התמים ר' אליעזר דניאל ב"ר שמואל יעקב ע"ה מייערס ליום היארצייט שלו כ"ג מנחם-אב. ת.נ.צ.ב.ה.

The signs of a kosher animal—split hooves and chewing the cud—represent the spiritual balance and continual self-examination necessary to elevate one's involvement with the physical world. The King's accessibility in Elul is not permission to remain comfortably “in the field,” but an invitation and empowerment to improve. This class, taught by Rabbi Shais Taub, is based on Re'eh in Likkutei Sichos Vol. 2.

Shiur give by Rabbi Menachem Apter on Parsha.

Giving tzedaka in the month of Elul