Page 2 - Chayei Adam LAYOUT sivan 5782

Chayei Adam - K’lal 138 - The Laws of Selichos and Erev Rosh Hashana

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]1[ Out of Hashem’s great love for His nation, He did us a tremendous favor
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by commanding us to repent any time we sin. Although teshuva is good
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anytime, the month of Elul is an especially opportune time for one’s teshuva to
be accepted, more so than any other time of the year. This is because it has been
an auspicious time ever since we became a nation: When the Jewish people built
a golden calf [Moshe came down] and shattered the luchos on the 17th of Tamuz.
After this, he went back up the mountain and prayed [for our forgiveness] and
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Hashem told him to hew out new stones as He was willing to give a second set
of luchos. Then, Moshe ascended the mountain again on Rosh Chodesh Elul and
stayed there until Yom Kippur when [the Jews] achieved atonement. The Tana
D’vei Eliyahu writes that throughout the entire time the Jews fasted and the last
day, which was the tenth of Tishrei, they decreed a full fast beginning the night
before. It was for this reason that that day - Yom Kippur - was established as the
day of atonement forever. Ever since, these times have been one when we find
favor in Hashem’s eyes and awaken His mercy. Since, when Moshe ascended the

םדו רשב
1. See the opening paragraph of Shaarei which is beyond the scope of this work.
Teshuva, Shaar 1, where he writes that ‘One of (Readers are referred to the Rabeinu Yonah’s
the great favors Hashem has done with His work, Shaarei Teshuva, and Hilchos Teshuva in
Creation is that he prepared a path that allows the Rambam’s Yad Hachazaka as classic
them to rise up from their lowly actions, flee starting points.)
from them… to return to Him when they sin.
The idea of teshuva is novel; sin not only 2. The Torah expresses this in several
affects the soul, but impacts the entire places. See for example Devarim 4:30 and
world. Really, such damage should be 30:2. The nevi’im are also filled with words
irreversible. Yet, Hashem in His tremendous urging us to repent. Teshuva is accomplished
love and mercy for His people created the when one abandons his wrongful conduct
ability to return to Him, not only erasing sin deciding never to repeat his actions or fondly
and the ensuing consequences, but under ב
certain circumstances, teshuva can transform recall them ever again. Ideally, this should be
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our failings and shortcomings into positive when circumstances would still allow for him
accomplishments. Full volumes have been to repeat his actions - i.e. that his desires and
written about teshuva from both a legal and physical strength still remain (Rambam Hilchos
philosophical perspective, the discussion of Teshuva 2:1-2)

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