6 Elul Tips from Rabbanit Yamima Mizrachi
6 Elul Tips from Rabbanit Yamima Mizrachi
If we do everything right during the month of Elul, G-d opens the 13 Gates of Mercy for us as part of our preparation for the High Holidays. How can we merit this?
1. Improve or take on something new:
Take on a new mitzvah from the first of Elul until Rosh Hashanah. For example, begin wearing a long skirt for 30 days; begin praying Mincha for 30 days; begin studying Torah for 10 minutes a day for 30 days, and so on.
Rabbeinu Yonah teaches that when you take on a new mitzvah for 30 days, you can emerge from darkness into a great new light. Hashem sees that you know how to change, and He will change your reality for you: you will finally give birth to the child you have been waiting for so long, find the life partner you have dreamed of, see your marriage finally improve significantly, or find the large apartment or job you have been searching for.
You need to improve the mitzvot you already perform. For example, you pray every day, but during the next 30 days, pray with even greater kavanah. You prepare for Shabbat every week, but until Yom Kippur, prepare for Shabbat with even greater joy. Less shouting and more smiles.
2. Psalm 27
the Ari HaKadosh (of blessed memory) taught that anyone who recites Chapter 27 of Tehillim in Hebrew twice a day (morning and evening) until the end of Yom Kippur is assured that the 13 Gates of Mercy will be opened in Heaven for them.
Why this particular psalm?
3. Give the gift of life
On each new day of Elul, make sure you do more good for another person who is struggling or suffering. Every day, ask yourself: “Whom can I make happier today?” Invite guests to your home for Shabbat, visit a patient in the hospital, and be more attentive to your children.
4. Forgive and forget
Hashem gives us a special task during every Elul. Our Sages promise: “Whoever forgives will have all their sins forgiven.”
We committed many sins this year that cannot be forgiven. We spoke lashon hara about people and cannot ask their forgiveness, because asking forgiveness would cause them pain once again. We hurt a child, but how can we ask them for forgiveness when they are so young that they cannot understand the pain we caused them?
The answer... The next time someone insults you, hurts you, or embarrasses you, remember that “Whoever forgives will have all their sins forgiven,” and say to yourself: “Hashem, apparently You are sending this person to anger me because You want to erase my sins. Therefore, I agree with You. I am not angry. I forgive this person”.
5. Mercy toward animals
“Whoever shows mercy to animals, Heaven will have mercy on them.” During Elul, we do not kill even tiny insects.
6. Watch your speech
This is the most important thing during the month of Elul. During Elul, your words about your family members carry special weight.
Ramchal teaches that on Rosh Hashanah, G-d counts all the words that came out of your mouth concerning your family members. On Rosh Hashanah, Hashem will ask His angels: “Tell Me, what did she say about her husband during Elul?” The angels will answer: “She said that he is stingy and lazy.” Hashem will write the words “stingy and lazy” in His notebook. Depending on what we said about our family members, Hashem will judge our entire family and us.
Be careful and speak only positively about your family members throughout the month of Elul until Yom Kippur, and let this become your habit after the holidays as well.
(written based on a lesson by Rabbanit Yamima Mizrachi)
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Tags: Segulot, Rabbanit Yemima Mizrachi, The Month of Elul, 6 Tips from Rabbanit Yemima Mizrachi for the Month of Elul
