Podcasts about erev rosh hashanah

התוכן הוראה בענין "ואהבת לרעך כמוך" [בשני דפ' קדושים] מסיפור הבא: לאחרי הסתלקות אדה"ז היו לצ"צ כמה ספיקות שרצה שאדה"ז יפתור לו, אלא שלא הצליח בזה וכו', עד שפעם א' נגש אליו יהודי לפני התפלה ובקש ממנו הלואה כדי שיוכל לקנות בו עגל עבור פרנסתו (זה הי' יום שוק), הזדרז הצ"צ והלך מיד, לפני התפלה, לביתו והביא לו את ההלואה וכו'. כשחזר - נראה אליו אדה"ז בפנים מאירות ופתר לו את ספיקותיו. והרי בודאי קיים הצ"צ בפועל כל יום את מה ש"נכון לומר לפני התפלה הריני מקבל עלי.. ואהבת לרעך כמוך" ואת הענין של "יהיב פרוטה לעני והדר מצלי", ולאידך - לא הי' כ"כ חשוב שיתן לו את ההלואה דוקא לפני התפלה, והי' יכול לטעון שמספיק לאהוב את השני "כמוך" והוא הי' דוחה א"ז עד לאחרי התפלה, ומ"מ דוקא הזריזות לעזור לשני יותר מ"כמוך" - זה מה שפעל שאדה"ז נראה אליו וכו'!משיחת אור לכ"ט אלול ה'תשל"ו ל"הנחה פרטית" או התרגום ללה"ק של השיחה: https://thedailysicha.com/?date=08-05-2025 Synopsis A lesson regarding the mitzvah to “Love your fellow like yourself” (in sheini of parashas Kedoshim): After the histalkus of the Alter Rebbe, the Tzemach Tzedek had a number of questions he wanted to ask the Alter Rebbe, but he didn't merit for the Alter Rebbe to appear to him until one day a Jew approached him before davening and asked for a loan so he could purchase a calf from which to earn his livelihood (it was market day). The Tzemach Tzedek hurried back home – before davening – and leant him the money. When he returned to shul, the Alter Rebbe appeared to him with a radiant face and resolved his questions. Now, the Tzemach Tzedek undoubtedly kept the practice of “accepting upon myself the positive mitzvah to love your fellow like yourself” and “giving a coin to a pauper” before davening every day. Moreover, there was an argument to be made that it's enough to “love your fellow like yourself” – and since he wouldn't have dealt with his own livelihood until after davening, he didn't have to take care of someone else's livelihood until after davening either. Nevertheless, it was specifically this alacrity in helping another Jew even more than “like yourself” that caused the Alter Rebbe to appear to him etc.Excerpt from sichah of night of Erev Rosh Hashanah 5736. For a transcript in English of the Sicha: https://thedailysicha.com/?date=08-05-2025 לע"נ מרת שרה זיסל ב"ר משה הלוי ע"ה וויינבוים ליום היארצייט שלה י' אייר. ת.נ.צ.ב.ה.‏

התוכן מבואר בדרושי הצ"צ בפירוש הענין ד"משביעין אותו תהי צדיק וכו'" [מובא בריש פ"א דספר התניא], ש"משביעין" מלשון שובע, שזהו נתינת-כח באופן של "שובע", וגם מלשון שבועה, שמקורה ושרשה – "בי נשבעתי", בחי' פנימיות עתיק, על כללות העבודה עם היצ"ט ("תהי צדיק") ויצה"ר ("ואל תהי רשע"). שלכן יכול כל א' לומר "מתי יגיעו מעשי למעשי אבותי אברהם יצחק ויעקב", שבנוגע למעשה בפועל ("מעשי") מתוך קבלת עול ואמונה פשוטה – שווים כל בנ"י. ואדרבה – ידוע הפתגם שפשיטות העצמות דעצמות אוא"ס מתגלה דוקא בפשיטותו של איש פשוט! וכאשר התורה מגלה ענין מסויים, הרי כן היא המציאות! ומה שישנם "סוסים" החושבים רק אודות ה"תבן" – אין זה משנה את המציאות!; אלו ש"תואנה הם מבקשים" היתכן לכנות מישהו בשם "סוס", ובפרט ערב ר"ה – הנה האמת היא שזהו"ע של לימוד זכות עבור היהודי שאומר דברים מסויימים – שענין זה אמר ה"סוס" שבו, ול"סוס" אא"פ לבוא בטענה "מדוע הנך סוס"...כמה חלקים מהתוועדות אור לכ"ט אלול ה'תשמ"ג, ערב ר"ה ה'תשד"מ ל"הנחה פרטית" או התרגום ללה"ק של השיחה: https://thedailysicha.com/?date=23-12-2024 Synopsis On the phrase (cited at the beginning of Tanya), “an oath is administered to him (mashbi'in oiso) to be righteous…,” the Tzemach Tzedek explains that mashbi'in is related to the word sova (satiation), as well as the word shvua (oath), because it empowers a person – in a way that satiates him, and with the quality of an oath, which comes from the inner dimension of Atik – for his general service with his yetzer tov (“be righteous”) and the yetzer hara (“do not be wicked”). Therefore, every Jew can rightfully say, “When will my deeds reach the deeds of my forefathers, Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov?” – because when it comes to practical action (“my deeds”) performed with kabbolas ol and simple faith, all Jews are equal. Moreover, the pure simplicity of the Divine Essence is revealed specifically in the pure simplicity of a simple Jew. When the Torah reveals something, that means that is the reality; the fact that there are “horses” who think only about the “straw” doesn't change that reality. And for those who protest, how can you call someone a horse, especially on Erev Rosh Hashanah – the truth is that this is a matter of judging Jews favorably: when a Jew says certain things, we say it wasn't him who said it, but the horse inside him, and you can't complain against a horse for being a horse.Excerpts from farbrengen of 29 Elul 5743 For a transcript in English of the Sicha: https://thedailysicha.com/?date=23-12-2024 לזכות שטערנא שרה בת מושקא שתחי' ליום ההולדת שלה כ"ב כסלו - לשנת ברכה והצלחה, ואריכות ימים ושנים טובות

(Erev) Rosh Hashanah pt 1

(Erev) Rosh Hashanah pt 2

Erev Rosh Hashanah Sermon Rabbi Linder - Awe

"Peace does not and will not magically happen. We will have to work hard for peace, which will require courage, compromise, and even sacrifice. We can start by talking about peace. And let's talk about it until there's nothing else to talk about." Listen to Rabbi Aaron Potek's 5785 Erev Rosh Hashanah sermon about not losing faith in the possibility of peace. His remarks were followed by two speakers from the grassroots organizations Women Wage Peace and Women of the Sun.

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Kehaillat Israel High Holy Days 5785

Erev Rosh Hashanah: Miracle IdentityYou can watch or listen to this and other sermons from our IDENTITY Series NOW!! Online using the Adat app, Roku, AppleTV, Google TV, and Fire TV!

Sermon by Rabbi Angela Buchdahl, "Grief Calls us to Life | Erev Rosh HaShanah 5785" October 2, 2024

Rabbi Adam Kligfeld's Erev Rosh Hashanah Sermon at Temple Beth Am, Los Angeles, October 2, 2024. (Youtube)

For Erev Rosh Hashanah, Rabbi Schiller looks at the Parable of the 2 sons and the Parable of the Vineyard in Mth 21, focusing on themes of repentance, that we're tenants, not owners, in God's vineyard, and that we're in need of radical grace.

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The Joy & Jerry (z”l) Monkarsh Family Erev Rosh Hashanah Live Service, in Ziegler Sanctuary.

We think of t'shuvah as a process that begins quietly, internally. We take stock and then we act. But what if we need an external catalyst first? What if we need to return to a physical place in order to encounter ourselves again - a different version of ourselves, different pieces. What can returning to a place surface for us? And what does our tradition show us can come from that journey?

Has it ever been hard to trust G-d? Why is G-d's covenant with the Jewish people still important? Join Rabbi Kevin Solomon of Congregation Beth Hallel this Erev Rosh Hashanah as he recounts G-d's eternal covenant with Abraham and how it shines a light to the nations that G-d is true and present to this day. Do not throw away what the L-rd has given you, but rather live distinctly and be a beacon of proof and hope for the L-rd. L'Shana Tova!Genesis 12.1-3; Genesis 13.14-15; Genesis 15.7-8; Genesis 15.18; Genesis 17.19-21; Genesis 22.1-2; Genesis 22.12-18; Acts 21.19-24; Acts 3.25-26; Galatians 3.6-9 Prayer Requests or send an email to info@bethhallel.orgCBH WebsiteDonateYouTube Channel

Happy Anniversary to Nachum Segal and JM in the AM. Nachum presents great Jewish music, the latest news from Israel, Harry Rothenberg's parsha vlog, an interview with Mark Zomick and Mattes Weingast about JM in the AM at 41 and Rabbi Benjamin Yudin to discuss Rosh Hashanah. Wishing everyone a happy, healthy new year!

Rabbi Kalish

Despite our human doubt, we can trust that Messiah's forgiveness is a beacon of hope inviting us to embrace renewal and grace. Listen to Rabbi David's sermon from Erev Rosh Hashanah 5785 at CMC.

Join us as we observe Rosh Hashanah at Congregation Mayim Chayim

There are many lessons that our Rabbis learn from the case of the בן סורר ומורה -the rebellious wicked son, which apply to Rosh Hashanah. One of them is that Hashem judges a person based on the direction that he's headed in more than on what he has done in the past year. Another one is that the בן סורר ומורה can only be sentenced to his harsh punishment if he committed the crimes in the first three months since he turned thirteen. And that is precisely why the Torah deals with him so harshly. He just turned Bar Mitzvah. Here he is just starting a new beginning and the first things he does are totally against the Torah. There is something special about a new beginning. We are supposed to feel like we have an opportunity to do everything right from the start. These are the feelings we are supposed to have now with Rosh Hashanah upon us. Even if we haven't been the best we could be, now we have a new chance to do things right from the start. One of the best places to begin with is right in our own homes. There is so much pain that people are experiencing all over the world. At least let us do what we can to make our homes places of happiness. We can resolve to give our spouses the attention and warmth that they need to be happy in marriage. We can go out of our way to be sweeter and more patient. A home with shalom bayit is a place where the Shechina dwells. Every little improvement goes a long way. I read a story that a man from Bnei B'rak told about himself. It was late one Erev Rosh Hashanah and he was planning to walk with his family to the other side of Bnei Brak to eat the meal with his wife's family. He told his family how important it was for them to be on time so that he wouldn't be late to the first Arbit of the new year. However, as it often happens, his wife needed extra time to get ready and he was watching the clock and getting more anxious by the minute. Eventually, he saw that he was definitely going to be late to Arbit . Inside, he was so angry. His wife knew it was Rosh Hashanah and how important it was for him to be on time for shul. His patience had reached its limit. And then, finally they were off. As they were walking, he found himself debating whether or not to express his disappointment and frustration to his wife. He said to himself, "Would Hashem want me to vent to my wife now? Or would He rather me treat her with respect, patience and empathy? Was she really trying to make me late or did she just get caught up in things that were important to her?" With that, he decided the best thing he could do to serve Hashem at that moment would be to stay quiet. So he took a deep breath and spoke to his wife as if everything was completely fine. They walked at a nice pace, without her feeling pressured, and had a nice conversation along the way. Indeed, he arrived to shul late and prayed the best he could under the circumstances. While that incident eventually receded to the back of his mind, he noticed something interesting as the year began to unfold. He was enjoying success in all areas on a level that he never experienced. It was so out of the ordinary that it struck him. He was waiting for his mazal to run out, but it continued throughout the year. He thought long and hard why he may have been zocheh to success on such a profound level, but he really didn't have a good answer. He had a typical year before, spiritually, with basically the same strong points and imperfections as usual. The only thing that he could think of was the self-control and patience that he displayed towards his wife on the night of Rosh Hashanah. We can never know for sure, but we do know how valuable it is to perfect our middot and overcome our inclinations to get angry, especially when it comes to our spouses. May Hashem help us start off the new year the right way and help us become the people that we are capable of becoming.

Scientists and rabbis alike have investigated what we can learn from trees. Rabbi Zuckerman explores the many metaphors for how people are more like trees than one may have thought, and how these lessons apply to our entrance into the new year.

Erev Rosh Hashanah message from Rabbi Linder

Kehaillat Israel High Holy Days 5784

Engaging fully in the introspection of this High Holiday season can land us deep in shame and unable to move. But there is another way: be honest about our shortcomings, witness them and embrace them, and then transform them into something else entirely.

At our Erev Rosh Hashanah service, Rabbi Steven shared a story of his own personal Moses — his uncle Bill, a family friend living with HIV who would not live to see the Promised Land of further gains in LGBTQIA+ rights, but who did leave a lasting impression on young Steven. What are the legacies we will leave behind? What Promised Lands are beyond our lifetimes which we can nonetheless fight for here and now for our children and our children's children? Mishkan Chicago's High Holiday tickets are now on sale to the general public! For scheduling, pricing, venue information, and tickets, follow this link:https://www.mishkanchicago.org/high-holy-days/****For upcoming Shabbat services and programs, check our event calendar, and see our Accessibility & Inclusion page for information about our venues. Follow us on Instagram and like us on Facebook for more updates.Produced by Mishkan Chicago. Music composed, produced, and performed by Kalman Strauss.Transcript

Listen to Rabbi Aaron Potek's 5784 Erev Rosh Hashanah sermon from Friday, September 15, 2023 on identity and what it means to choose Judaism. 

Numbers 29.1; Joshua 6.16; Joshua 6.20; Isaiah 18.3; Genesis 4.6-7; Nehemiah 4.9-14; John 18.10-11; Luke 10.17-19; Matthew 24.30-31Shana Tova! Do you know why we have a day for blowing the shofar, Yom Teruah? When have you sounded the shofar in your life? Join Rabbi Kevin Solomon of Congregation Beth Hallel as he welcomes Rosh Hashanah with insight into some of the shofar blast's primary uses during times of conflict. It can be a call to press forward, to pause, to signal victory, or to be a warning. Sin can seep into your life if you are not alert! Chag Sameach!Prayer Requests or send an email to info@bethhallel.orgCBH WebsiteDonateYouTube Channel

Sermon by Rabbi Angela Buchdahl, "Am Yisrael Chai | Erev Rosh HaShanah 5784" September 15th, 2023

Rabbi Adam Kligfeld's Erev Rosh Hashanah Sermon at Temple Beth Am, Los Angeles, September 15, 2023. (Youtube)

This episode discusses the Halachos that are unique to Rosh Hashanah.

This episode discusses how Avinu Malkeinu corresponds to our Shemonah Esray and reflects on it.

Nachum Segal presents Harry Rothenberg's parsha vlog, the Weekly Update with Malcolm Hoenlein, great Jewish music and Rabbi Benjamin Yudin to discuss Rosh Hashanah.

התוכן ברכת הרבי כ"ט אלול ה'תש"נ, ערב ראש השנה ה'תנש"א, אחרי קבלת הפ"נ הכללי ל"הנחה פרטית" או התרגום ללה"ק של השיחה: https://thedailysicha.com/?date=15-09-2023 Synopsis The Rebbe's bracha – 29 Elul 5750, Erev Rosh Hashanah 5751, after receiving the Pan Klali For a transcript in English of the Sicha: https://thedailysicha.com/?date=15-09-2023

התוכן 1) בפרשת האזינו מודגש הענין דאחדות ישראל. ובהקדים: אחדות ישראל פירושה, שכל בנ"י, מ"ראשיכם שבטיכם" עד "חוטב עציך ושואב מימיך", נצבים באופן של "כולכם", "לאחדים כאחד", "מבלי אשר ימצא האדם ראש וסוף". והנה פרשת האזינו היא הפרשה היחידה בתורה שנאמרה כולה במעמד כל בנ"י! כמ"ש בפשוטו של מקרא. וזוהי ההוראה מפרשת האזינו, שבכל יום וכל רגע השייך לפרשת האזינו צריכים "לחיות" עם תוכן ענין האחדות. ועוד יותר: ישנה ההבטחה בתורה בנוגע ל"שירה הזאת" של פרשת האזינו "שאין תורה משתכחת מזרעם"! 2) בפ' האזינו מודגשת מעלתו של יהודי, שכאשר מדבר וחוזר על דבריו של משה רבינו, ש"אתפשטותא דמשה בכל דרא ודרא", אזי נשמעים אליו השמים והארץ וכל צבאיהם! ואי"ז תלוי בבחירתם, שהרי אינם בעלי בחירה, אלא מוכרחים הם להשמע אליו! וזה קשור עם הנהגתו של הצ"צ (בעל יום ההולדת דער"ה) שבראש השנה הי' מנהיג "סדרים" ("פאַריאַדקעס") בפטרבורג – עיר הבירה של המלוכה שהיתה מושלת בכיפה בזמן ההוא!משיחת אור לכ"ט אלול ה'תשמ"ג, ערב ר"ה ה'תשד"מ ל"הנחה פרטית" או התרגום ללה"ק של השיחה: https://thedailysicha.com/?date=14-09-2023 Synopsis (1) Parashas Haazinu emphasizes Jewish unity. To preface: Jewish unity means the entire Jewish people, “from the heads of your tribes” to “your woodcutters and your water drawers,” stand “all of you” together as one, “without man finding beginning and end.” And Parashas Haazinu is the only parashah in the Torah that was said entirely before an assembly of the whole Jewish people, as the plain meaning of the verse indicates. And this is the lesson from Parashas Haazinu, that every day and every moment of the week of Parashas Haazinu one must “live” with this theme of unity. Moreover: the Torah promises that this song of Parashas Haazinu “will not be forgotten from the mouth of their offspring.” (2) Parashas Haazinu emphasizes that when a Jew speaks and repeats the words of Moshe Rabbeinu, the heavens and the earth and all their hosts listen to him! And they have no choice in the matter because they have no free will. And this is connected to the Tzemach Tzedek (whose birthday is Erev Rosh Hashanah), who would “make arrangements” regarding the Russian government in the capital on Rosh Hashanah.Excerpt from sicha of then night of 29 Elul 5743, Erev Rosh Hashana 5744 For a transcript in English of the Sicha: https://thedailysicha.com/?date=14-09-2023 לזכות סופי זיסל בת חי' שרה שתחי' וויינבוים ליום ההולדת שלה ביום ערב ראש השנהלשנת ברכה והצלחה‏, ואריכות ימים ושנים טובות

Is there a custom to fast on Erev Rosh HaShanah? Listen To Find Out :) To Dedicate A Halacha Moment WhatsApp 305-707-7259 Or visit ⁠https://HalachaMoment.Com/Donate⁠  To Be Added To receive Halacha Moment VIA WhatsApp visit ⁠https://HalachaMoment.com/Join⁠  To View More Halacha Moment's Visit ⁠HalachaMoment.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/halacha-moment/support

In the beginning of parashat Vayelech . Moshe tells the people, today I am 120 years old, לא אוכל עוד לצאת ולבוא– I am no longer able to go out and come in. On the surface level, it sounds like Moshe was saying due to his old age he could no longer lead the people. However, Rashi writes, we know from a pasuk at the end of parashat V'zot Haberacha that Moshe remained strong and vibrant up until his last breath on this earth. Therefore, the interpretation of this pasuk is that Moshe was telling them he was no longer able to be their leader only because Hashem told him his time was up. Everybody has their time and they must take advantage of it while it is there. Some times are more optimal than others. The Midrash Raba gives a mashal to explain how it was possible that Moshe Rabbenu was not answered to be allowed to go into Eretz Yisrael. The parable is of a king who had a beloved friend who he appointed to be the chief officer over his palace. One day, this officer was seen outside the gate of the palace and was being denied entry. Nobody could believe it because just the day before he was in charge of everything that went on in that palace. And now, he wasn't even allowed in! The guard explained it was because his time was up. The king appointed a new chief and this man was reduced to just a commoner. Similarly by Moshe Rabbenu. Anything he said Hashem listened to right away. He said קומה ה' – Rise Hashem, he said שובה ה' – Return Hashem. He said to Hashem to open the mouth of the earth and swallow Korach, and so on, and Hashem acquiesced to all of his requests on the spot. But then, when Moshe wanted to go into Eretz Yisrael, Hashem denied him, and the reason was because his time of always being answered immediately was up. Moshe had his time and then it was taken away. The key in all situations in life is to be aware of the opportunities we are being given and capitalize upon them. We are now in the most spiritual time of the entire year. The month of Elul is auspicious for spirituality. Everything we do counts more. Our prayers are more readily accepted. What may take dozens of tefilot to accomplish during the rest of the year can be accomplished now with much fewer. Our learning is worth more, our mitzvot are worth more. A man was once walking with a great rabbi. It was Erev Rosh Hashanah in the morning and he turned to the rabbi and asked for some final words of inspiration before Rosh Hashanah. The rabbi said in a raised voice, “Elul stands for אני לדודי ודודי לי , there is an outpouring of love from Hashem in Elul.” The man was wondering why the rabbi would speak about Elul when the month was practically over and Rosh Hashanah was at their doorstep. The rabbi then repeated, “ אני לדודי ודודי לי . ” He said, “There are still a few hours left of this precious month. Go now and use them wisely.” With those words, the man started to cry. It was then that he realized the value of every moment in Elul. We still have one week left of Elul. Tonight is the final Shabbat of the year. Let us take advantage and keep it the way it is supposed to be kept. This year on Rosh Hashanah there is no shofar on the first day because it will be Shabbat. The shofar is what arouses the mercy of Hashem during judgment. If we treat Shabbat the way it is supposed to be treated, then Shabbat will advocate on our behalf and arouse Hashem's mercy instead of the shofar . This Shabbat is extremely important. If we haven't kept it until now the way we are supposed to, we can still fix it. We should accept upon ourselves to do our utmost to honor Shabbat, not to speak mundane speech, to adhere to all the halachot and learn extra Torah. This opportunity is still here. Let us grab it while we have it. Shabbat Shalom

Shalom, y'all, and welcome to the first episode of The Bluegrass Schmooze! This one's a doozy, because we decided to launch a new podcast during Tishrei, or the Jewish Holiday Super Bowl. Deep dive with us into all the events happening This Month in Judaism… from the first lit candle of Erev Rosh Hashanah, all the way through until that long Torah scroll is unfurled on Simchat Torah. (For our non-Jewish listeners, this segment will also explain why your Jewish friends are so hard to book happy hour with this time of year.) Then we'll welcome special guests Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg and “mayor for life” Jerry Abramson, who reflect on how their Judaism influences their leadership, and share their hopes for the city in the new year. ---------- "The Bluegrass Schmooze" gets support from the Jewish Heritage Fund, the Eye Care Institute's Butchertown Clinical Trials and the members of Louisville Public Media. Learn more about the show and subscribe for free at bluegrassschmooze.org.

Is There A Custom To Visit Graves On Erev Rosh HaShanah? Listen To Find Out :) To Dedicate A Halacha Moment WhatsApp 305-707-7259 Or visit ⁠https://HalachaMoment.Com/Donate⁠  To Be Added To receive Halacha Moment VIA WhatsApp visit ⁠https://HalachaMoment.com/Join⁠  To View More Halacha Moment's Visit ⁠HalachaMoment.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/halacha-moment/support

Is There A Custom To Dip In The Mikvah On Erev Rosh HaShanah? Listen To Find Out :) To Dedicate A Halacha Moment WhatsApp 305-707-7259 Or visit ⁠https://HalachaMoment.Com/Donate⁠  To Be Added To receive Halacha Moment VIA WhatsApp visit ⁠https://HalachaMoment.com/Join⁠  To View More Halacha Moment's Visit ⁠HalachaMoment.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/halacha-moment/support

At Mishkan's Erev Rosh Hashanah service, Rabbi Lizzi Heydemann delivered a sermon on learning to live with the heartbreaking circumstances of this world by relying on the tradition passed down to us by sages like Rabbi Eleazar who were no strangers to heartbreak themselves. This episode concludes with the Mishkan Davening Team's performance of "Crowded Table." If you have been moved by any of Mishkan's High Holy Days services, we encourage you to donate to our High Holidays Campaign.For upcoming Shabbat services and programs, check our event calendar, and see our Accessibility & Inclusion page for information about our venues. Follow us on Instagram and like us on Facebook for more updates.Produced by Mishkan Chicago. Music composed, produced, and performed by Kalman Strauss.Transcript of R'Lizzi's Drash

Relive Rabbi Aaron Potek's Erev Rosh Hashanah sermon, delivered on September 25, 2022. 

Kehaillat Israel High Holy Days 5783

Workshop for People With Anxiety and Pain Around the High Holidays: by Rabbi YY Jacobson, Streaming Live, Motzaei Shabbos, Erev Rosh Hashanah, September 24, 9:30 PM ET

A person who is owed money at the end of the Shemita (seventh, or "sabbatical") year may not collect these debts after the Shemita year unless he signs a Prozbol document before Rosh Hashanah. By signing this document, the individual declares that all debts owed to him are transferred to the authority of the Bet Din (Rabbinical court), and this allows him to collect the debts after Rosh Hashanah.Generally speaking, Halacha requires signing the Prozbol document, and does not allow a person to merely announce the transfer of his debts to the Bet Din. It is insufficient for a person to make a verbal declaration to this effect, even if he does so in the presence of witnesses; he must sign the Prozbol document and thereby transfer his loans to the Bet Din. Nevertheless, there is room for leniency in this regard under certain circumstances. Thus, for example, the Shulhan Aruch (Hoshen Mishpat 67:20) rules that Torah scholars are not required to write a Prozbol, and can instead simply declare in front of two witnesses that they transfer their loans to Bet Din. Furthermore, even laymen may make a verbal declaration in lieu of writing a Prozbol under extenuating circumstances. This would include a situation of one who wrote a Prozbol as required, but then lost the document at some point before Rosh Hashanah. Halacha does not require the individual to write a new Prozbol, and instead allows him to simply make a verbal declaration in the presence of two witnesses that he transfers his debts to Bet Din. Likewise, if a person arrives at the synagogue on Erev Rosh Hashanah, just before the onset of the holiday, and realizes that he had not written a Prozbol, it suffices for him to make a verbal declaration. He should approach two other people in the synagogue and declare in their presence that he transfers his loans to Bet Din, and this allows him to collect his debts after Rosh Hashanah, even though he did not write a Prozbol.Summary: Generally speaking, one may not collect outstanding debts after the end of the Shemita year unless he had signed a Prozbol document before Rosh Hashanah. In certain situations, however, one may, instead of signing a Prozbol, verbally declare in the presence of two witnesses that he formally transfers his outstanding debts to Bet Din. This may be done by a Torah scholar, somebody who had signed a Prozbol but lost it before Rosh Hashanah, and somebody who realizes right before Rosh Hashanah that he had not written a Prozbol. Visit www.iTorah.com to download the Prozbol form.

A man was once walking with a rabbi who was a relative of the Brisker Rav. It was Erev Rosh Hashanah in the morning and he turned to the rabbi and asked him to please give him some words of inspiration. The rabbi then said in a raised voice, “Elul stands for אני לדודי ודודי לי.” The man was wondering why the rabbi would be giving him chizuk about Elul when the month was practically over and Rosh Hashanah was at their doorstep. The rabbi then repeated it, “אני לדודי ודודי לי. Hashem is with me and I am with Hashem. This is the essence of Elul. There are still a few hours left of the month. Go now and use them wisely.” With those words, the man started to cry, and it was then he realized the value of every moment of Elul. It's a month in which Hashem showers us with mercy and yearns for us to get closer to him. There are people who honestly want to become better, but they don't know how. They don't know where to begin. They should ask Hashem to help them with that too. David HaMelech asked Hashem in Tehillim, “הוריני ה' דרכיך – show me the proper path that I should take.” Everyone has a unique mission in this world to fulfill and Hashem could help us fulfill it. If Hashem sees that we sincerely want to be close to Him, He'll give us the Siyata d'Shamaya that we need to do it, especially now during these days of Rachamim – Elul. Rabbi Elimelech Biderman told a story of a group of rabbis from Bneן Brak who usually go once a week to Rishon Letzion to learn with people who are distant from Torah to help bring them back. They have a shul that they learn in in that neighborhood, but when Corona started, the shul closed and they weren't able to continue. Before Shavuot, the shuls reopened and this group planned to resume their work in outreach. They made plans with those men in Rishon Letzion, and they traveled by bus to meet them at the shul they were accustomed to learning in. When they arrived, they saw the shul was closed. They inquired and were told that the shul was only being used for praying and nothing else. They asked if they could make an exception but they were denied. They asked if they could set up tables and chairs in the backyard parking lot and once again they were declined. One of the men of Rishon Letzion said he has a big open parking lot right near his house a couple of blocks away and they could go there and use it. The head rabbi said, “Okay, everybody go there and I'll wait here in front of the shul and tell whoever comes to go there. About ten minutes later, as the rabbi was standing there, he noticed a man walking by who was looking at him. The rabbi knew this wasn't one of the regulars who usually comes to learn there, but nonetheless, he called out to him and asked, “Would you like to learn Torah now?” The man's eyes lit up. “Yes,” he said, “is there a place for me to learn?” The rabbi replied, “Absolutely! But it is not going to be a class. We have rabbis who will learn with you one-on-one deep Gemara .” The man said, “Great, I would really enjoy that.” The man then told the rabbi his story. He said he grew up religious but then veered off the path. Recently, with Corona, he saw how Hashem controls the world and wanted to come back to Him, but he didn't know where to start. He told the rabbi, “I prayed to Hashem to show me the path to return and, lo and behold, Hashem sent me right to you.” As they were walking together to where the rest of the group was, the man asked the rabbi if by any chance he could get him a pair of Tefillin. The rabbi replied, “Actually, one of our rabbis here just fixed up his father's Tefillin, who passed away, and he's looking to find someone who would use them.” The man told the rabbi, “This is unbelievable. I asked Hashem for two things, to direct me to make teshuva and for a pair of Tefillin, and both were answered right away.” Look what Hashem did for this man, the shul did not allow them to learn there or in the backyard parking lot so that the rabbi would be standing outside in the front when this man walked by to direct him how to get back to Hashem. Hashem wants us to be close to Him. Now is the time. We need to utilize the opportunity we have during this glorious month and take advantage of Hashem's unending mercy.