40 Days from Rosh Chodesh Elul to Yom Kippur

From Rosh Chodesh Elul to Yom Kippur there are exactly 40 days—from 1 Elul through 10 Tishrei

And this is the most auspicious time to renew one's mazal over the course of 40 days. Gaon Rabbi Ben-Tzion Mutzafi (shlita) explains the significance of reciting any prayer for 40 days. He says that we do not know which sins we are guilty of: “gezel” (theft or appropriating what belongs to another), or “nidui” (excommunication), or whether we are guilty of “tina” (having hurt someone), and so on. Therefore, when we pray for 40 days, we appeal to the Rachamim (Mercy) and Chesed (Kindness) of the Almighty to mitigate the Dinim (judgments). In the elevation of any prayer, there are 40 steps of ascent, and a person must pass through 40 Batei Din (Courts of Judgment) in prayer, entering one of them each day and asking for compassion and for the prayer to be accepted. Therefore, during these 40 days it is beneficial to give tzedakah daily (which mitigates judgments), travel to the Kivrei Tzadikim—our advocates and helpers—listen to Torah classes and participate in them (this adds a small amount of merit for us).

Which prayers can help during this period?

1. Hatarat Nedarim (the annulment of vows) The holy Zohar says that a person who has incurred a reprimand (nezifah) or excommunication (nidui) will have his prayer rejected in Heaven for 40 days. Rabbeinu Chida transmits in the name of Rashash that it is beneficial to perform Hatarat Nedarim before Rosh Chodesh Elul; if one did not manage to do so, it should be done—as is customary—before Rosh Hashanah, and then the prayers will be heard. 2. Checking mezuzot In Elul, the Amorite kings Og and Sihon were defeated. Bnei Yissachar says that Og and Sihon are the names of two kelipot that guarded the entrance to the Land of Israel on the side of the forces of kelipah (preventing the Jews from entering Israel), opposed to the mezuzah, which protects the Jewish home through the Holy Names of the Almighty. Therefore, there is a segulah during this month to have one's mezuzot and tefillin checked (corresponding to the two kings). 3. The Arizal's insertion for 40 days in the fifth blessing of the Amidah—repentance. This segulah was composed by the Arizal (may his merit protect us) at the request of Rabbi Moshe Alshich. It happened that Rabbi Alshich's son had abandoned religious observance, causing his father great anguish, and he wanted his son to repent. The yichudim composed by the Arizal helped, and Rabbi Alshich's son returned to the faith of the Jewish people. הֲשִׁיבֵנוּ אָבִינוּ לְתוֹרָתֶךָ, וְקָרְבֵנוּ מַלְכֵּנוּ לַעֲבוֹדָתֶךָ, וְהַחֲזִירֵנוּ בִתְשׁוּבָה שְׁלֵמָה לְפָנֶיךָ. יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ ה' אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ שֶתַּחֲתֹּר חֲתִירָה מִתַּחַת כִּסֵא כְּבוֹדֶךָ לְהַחֲזִיר בִתְשוּבָה שְלֵמָה לְפָנֶיךָ כָּל פּוֹשְעֵי יִשְרָאֵל וּבִכְלָלָם תַּחֲזִיר אֶת [פְלוֹנִי בֶן פְלוּנִית] בִתְשוּבָה שְלֵמָה ה' [יֵהֵוֵהֵ] כִּי יְמִינְךָ פְּשוּטָה ה' [יֶהֶוֶהֶ] פְּשוּטָה לְקַבֵּל שָבִים. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' [יֵהֵוֵהֵ], הָרוֹצֶה בִתְשׁוּבָה Transliteration Hashiveinu, Avinu, le-Toratecha, ve-karveinu, Malkeinu, la-avodatecha, ve-hachazireinu bi-teshuvah shelemah lefanecha. Yehi ratzon milfanֶcha, Ad-nai Elo-heinu ve-Elohei avoteinu, she-tachtor chatirah mi-tachat Kisei Kevodecha lehachazir bi-teshuvah shelemah lefanecha kol poshei Yisrael u-vi-chlalם tachazir et [Peloni ben Plonit] bi-teshuvah shelemah, Ad-nai יֵהֵוֵהֵ ki yeminecha peshutah, Ad-nai יֶהֶוֶהֶ peshutah lekabel shavim. Baruch Atah, Ad-nai יֵהֵוֵהֵ, ha-rotzeh bi-teshuvah. Translation Bring us back, our Father, to Your Torah, and draw us near, our King, so that we may serve You; return us in complete repentance before You. May it be Your will, L-rd our G-d and G-d of our fathers, that You tunnel beneath the Throne of Your Glory to return all the sinners of Israel in complete repentance before You, and together with them return [name, son of mother's name] in complete repentance, L-rd יֵהֵוֵהֵ, for Your right hand is extended; L-rd יֶהֶוֶהֶ, it is extended to accept those who return. Blessed are You, L-rd יֵהֵוֵהֵ, who desires repentance! 4. Renewing one's Mazal A beneficial segulah for renewing one's mazal is being called to the Torah during the month of Elul. The most auspicious times are Rosh Chodesh Elul and 25 Elul (the first day of Creation). 5. Reciting Tehillim for 40 days during Elul (preferably before Selichot): 17 —to rid oneself of external and internal enemies; 32 —a segulah for requesting mercy; 51 —for forgiveness of sins and protection from the yetzer hara; 65 —to shorten the days of exile and for good fortune; 85 —for success on a journey; 102 —to ask for Chesed and the salvation of the Jewish people; 27 —from Rosh Chodesh Elul through Simchat Torah, for the arousal of mercy; 33 —22 verses corresponding to the 22 letters of the Torah, 161 words corresponding to the Name of the Holy One, and 13 mentions of the Name Havayah corresponding to the 13 Attributes of Mercy; 103—for mercy, livelihood, and honor; 104—for the destruction of all the mazikim created by sins. 6. On Rosh Chodesh Elul, give tzedakah according to the gematria of one's name Divide the tzedakah into seven portions and distribute them in seven places to those who study Torah—this renews one's mazal. 7. Study during the month of Elul: - Korbanot (Vayikra, the passage concerning sacrifices); - Sefer Yechezkel (from chapter 40 through the end); - Sefer Haggai (chapter 1)—read on 1 Elul (the 12 prophets correspond to the 12 months); 8. A segulah against karet and epidemics For 40 days, recite the Ten Commandments each morning—“Aseret HaDibrot.” (Shemot 20:1–14) The Ten Commandments consist of 620 letters, which is the gematria of the words “karet” and “keter.” By reciting the Ten Commandments for 40 days, a person is freed from “karet” and merits “keter”—a crown. During the month of Elul, reciting them even without kavanah is counted as if they were recited with kavanah. (“Chemdat Yamim”) The Ten Commandments are also a segulah against epidemics. 9. Tehillim that opens the mazal of the month of Elul The Tehillim corresponding to the month of Elul is Psalm 94. The one corresponding to the month of Tishrei is Psalm 27. However, we begin reciting it already on Rosh Chodesh Elul and continue through Simchat Torah, because this psalm is the key to the 13 sources of Mercy. The 13th verse begins with the word לולא “lule”—which in reverse order spells the word אלול “Elul.” According to “Chemdat Yamim,” it is preferable to recite it three times—it nullifies harsh decrees. The human heart is compared to a well—“bor”—a pit filled with rainwater. When a person sins, the accuser places a heavy stone on the person's heart-well, preventing blessings from filling it. Psalm 27 has the power to remove this stone and allow the two chambers of the heart to be filled with the two types of light of Ha-Shem—Chesed (kindness) and Gevurah (strength). 10. Rabbi Chaim Palaggi's segulah—to fulfill all 248 positive commandments, “aseh,” during the month of Elul. Rabbi Chaim Palaggi writes: “Let everyone fulfill whatever he can; and whatever he cannot fulfill, let him study in the Torah—and this renews and improves his mazal.” 11. The 48th Tikkun—for success and Parnassah On Rosh Chodesh and throughout the month, it is beneficial to recite the 48th Tikkun from Tikkunei Zohar—it is a tried-and-tested segulah for Parnassah and success in one's affairs. The full text is available here: Tikkun 48 – Tikkunei Zohar   (Compiled from Alexander Tzvi Sypkov's lecture, “Elul—the Month of Divine Favor”)