August 13, 2026
Imagine a destitute beggar knocking on a wealthy person's door. Instead of asking for a few coins, he asks for billions. It seems audacious, yet this is the exact nature of Jewish prayer. Prayer has the supernatural power to transform a situation instantly from a "deep pit" (bira amikta) to a "high peak" (igra rama). No matter how difficult the past year was in terms of health, livelihood, or spiritual growth, now is the time to ask Hashem boldly for a sweet, blessed, and prosperous year.
August 11, 2026
A small child dared to jump toward the King, and saved his entire family! A person should know: Now is the month of Elul—jump! The King is here! Jump onto the wagon!
August 10, 2026
Laws of Blessing the New Month with the Halachic and Kabbalistic Reasons — Customs of Shabbat Mevarchin, the Secret of Mentioning the Molad (New Moon), Intentions (Kavannot) of the Holy Rashash, the Greatness of the Blessing of the Month, and the Words of Our Sages of Blessed Memory on Why We Do Not Bless the Month of Tishrei.
August 9, 2026
• Our master, the Arizal, says: Now this is called the month of Elul, this is called the Month of Mercy and Forgiveness. • The gates of heaven are opened. He says, the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy open and illuminate: "Almighty, merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness and truth"—it opens up.
August 9, 2026
However, so that his body may be refined and his soul be pleasing to Hashem, a person can now refine himself during these forty days—as we have already spoken about—by moderating pleasures and all such things.
August 6, 2026
Rabbi Yitzchak said: Four things tear up a person's harsh decree. The first among them is charity, as it is written: "And charity delivers from death."
August 5, 2026
A person should flee to a city of refuge, to be saved from all these accusers. Where is this city of refuge?" The Ari says: "The city of refuge is the month of Elul."
August 4, 2026
As the Aderet Eliyahu (Rabbi Yosef Chaim, the Ben Ish Chai) writes: He says that these 51 awesome days—from Rosh Chodesh Elul through Simchat Torah—are a sign and an aid for the entire year. If a person guards them, he will overcome his evil inclination (Yetzer HaRa) and overcome his trials. But if not—woe to him, he will be trapped in the net of the evil inclination.
August 4, 2026
By immersing in the 40 Se'ah of purity, each single Se'ah casts out 10 forces of impurity. And then the verse is fulfilled in them: "And I will remove the spirit of impurity from the land" (Zechariah 13:2).
August 4, 2026
The Holy One, Blessed be He, strikes in all places—on land, in tornadoes, in high-rise buildings, in the air... sandstorms, earthquakes, global crises, heavy snows, floods... "And the living shall take it to heart" (Kohelet 7:2)—Sir, wake up! Repent, know what lies before you! See, Elul has arrived, now is the time.
August 3, 2026
As our Sages said: Friday (the sixth day) — represents the foundation (Yesod). It prepares for the Sabbath, which represents Kingship (Malchut). The same applies: the sixth month — is the month of Elul. It prepares for the seventh month, which is akin to the Sabbath, the month of Tishrei.
August 3, 2026
• The month of Elul — it takes a person and cleanses him. If he makes an effort, what does he do? Every day in the month of Elul, he engages in spiritual self-reckoning (Chesbon Nefesh). He thinks about himself, prepares himself, takes action, and acts — this will save him.
July 26, 2026
Our Sages, of blessed memory, said: There were no good days for Israel like the fifteenth of Av and like Yom Kippur, and one should slightly increase joy on it for there is an elevation to the Divine Presence (Shechinah).
July 21, 2026
From within the darkness the light is revealed
July 20, 2026
Laws of the Fast of Tisha B'Av (the Ninth of Av) – the five afflictions, wearing of shoes, washing, the sick and women after childbirth, children, those exempt from the fast, and the laws for the fast according to the halachic authorities
July 20, 2026
Laws of the Eve of Tisha B'Av – Torah study after midday, saying of Tachanun (supplication prayers), the concluding meal, the prohibition of meat and wine, two cooked foods, sitting on the ground, Zimmun (grace after meals invitation), and acceptance of the fast before the fast.
July 19, 2026
Laws of the week in which falls the Ninth of Av – laws of laundering, wearing of laundered clothes, washing/bathing, haircutting, cutting of nails, immersion in the mikveh, cleaning of the house, and the rest of the practical laws according to the Poskim (Decisors) of Halacha (Jewish law).
June 15, 2026
Tu B'Av was the time when the souls of Israel came up in thought, and therefore they enacted that in each and every year the daughters of Israel would go dancing in the vineyards and they permitted the tribes to marry one with the other and the tribe of Binyamin (Benjamin) was permitted to intermarry with the community, for this is the time that the souls of Israel came up in thought and therefore there is no time better than this for marriage.
