18 Elul — How to Rectify All 12 Months of the Past Year in the 12 Days Before Rosh Hashanah
18 Elul — How to Rectify All 12 Months of the Past Year in the 12 Days Before Rosh Hashanah
According to Hasidic teaching, 18 Elul marks the beginning of a uniquely significant period: the final 12 days of the month. These 12 days correspond to the 12 months of the year, with each day corresponding to one month. On each of these days, one should thoroughly review one's actions during one of the preceding months.
On 18 Elul, one accounts for the month of Tishrei; on the 19th, for Cheshvan; and so on, through 29 Elul, the eve of Rosh Hashanah, when one must account for one's deeds during the outgoing month of Elul.
Before praying each day, one recites words such as these:
"Ribono Shel Olam, today is 18 Elul, and I ask You during these days of Selichot to forgive me for all my sins and mistakes that I committed during the month of Tishrei of the past year, and to cleanse me of all the wrong I committed, whether unknowingly or intentionally, on this day":
18 Elul = the month of Tishrei;
19 Elul = the month of Cheshvan;
20 Elul = the month of Kislev;
21 Elul = the month of Tevet;
22 Elul = the month of Shevat;
23 Elul = the month of Adar;
24 Elul = the month of Nisan;
25 Elul = the month of Iyar;
26 Elul = the month of Sivan;
27 Elul = the month of Tammuz;
28 Elul = the month of Av;
29 Elul = the month of Elul;
Among Hasidim, it is customary on the last day of Elul to make a "pidyon ha-nefesh", (redemption of the soul). Among Breslov Hasidim, this takes the form of a prayer; in Chabad, it is a note to the Rebbe. In either case, it is a request that our tzadikim intercede on our behalf before the Creator, so that He will show mercy to the petitioner and his or her family.
(Marina Karpova, "Lechaim")
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Tags: Numbers, 12 Days Until Rosh Hashanah, 18 Elul, Rosh Hashanah, How to Rectify 12 Months in 12 Days
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