Thoughts as we enter Elul.

To the extent that we are able to nullify ourselves, we become closer to Hashem.

from:   Elul: Month of Relationships
Teacher: Mrs. Shira Smiles

It is Rosh Chodesh Elul today and I am sitting in the hospital waiting for someone to get out of surgery.  I am grateful to Hashem for putting me in a position of helplessness as I wait for good news.  It brings me to a place of realizing that all of our plans are meaningless without Hashem's plans for us.   As I look around at all of the sick people around me, I realize again what a gift good health is.  As we contemplate the new year, we should be aware of all of the blessings in our lives.  If we can eat and breathe and walk and we have a roof over our heads, we have a lot to thank Hashem for.  Last year at this time, I never dreamed that I would have such a hard year.  Baruch Hashem I have the chance to beg Hashem for a year of good.

Kaporos Avonos(forgiveness from sin) without pain.

To the extent that we feel Hashem's love, we are zocheh to Kaporos Avonos.  When we do a sin we build a separation between ourselves and Hashem.  When we feel Hashem's love we melt those separations.

from a sefer by Rabbi Tzvi Meyer Silverberg.

We are witnessing a cosmic lesson in humility.

The animalistic tendency of man is being checked and subdued. A force far greater is reminding us of the higher purpose of creation: “And it was good.” When we make it less good, it comes to bite us. ‘ The Kabbalistic teachings describe the physical features of life as shards of a broken Divine container that humans have been given the privilege to raise up and restore. And not just a privilege – but an absolute duty, loosely described as Tikkun Olam – the 613 Mitzvot that repair the world.


Jewish people have a 3500 year tradition of response to supreme adversity. It is called Teshuva – returning to the norm. In the place of fear and repair, the onlooker of tragedy has to visit his/her own heart and commit to a life of high values, true Hessed (compassion), real nurture of family and friendship, meaningful contribution to the welfare of others and community, and expression of real love – even for the stranger.

Read the signs well and make a change in your life. The tsunamic flood seeks a Noachide response of principle and brotherhood - Ahavat Yisrael.

by Laibl Wolf

Blame can keep us from Teshuvah.

When Adam and Chava did the first sin, Hashem called out to them asking what they did. They should have admitted that they did something wrong, but instead they blamed someone else. This kept them from doing proper Teshuvah. Whenever we do something wrong, we should look for our own part in the problem and not look for who we can blame.

Mother of Mankind

Teacher: Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller Class: In the Merit of Righteous Women

Gratitude brings us to Teshuvah

The more that we thank Hashem and see the greatness of his presence, the more that we live on Hashems terms and not our own. When we face the true reality of the world and accept it as it is, we gain the ability to grow. Gratitude brings us to Teshuvah more then anything else. The more we see all of the good things that Hashem does for us the more that we will want to return to Hashem.

from a Shiur by Rebbetzin Heller about the Deeper Meaning of Chanukah on Aish.com

Dvar Torah from a Torah 12 Step meeting

Zochrenu L' Chaim- Remember us for life-he who desires life.  Hashem wants to help us if we are willing to let him into our life.  The life that I was living was not working-we have to put down our addictions and constantly turn to Hashem and understand that Hashem can really change me.

Instead of focusing on our problems focus on asking Hashem to help us.

Then we have to look at ourselves, what is our part of the problem.  When we turn to Hashem it should be on a deeper level, honestly admitting our part of the problems.  We have to ask Hashem to help us let go of our negative traits, to be willing to change.

We have to remember that Hashem will not forgive us for the sins that we did to someone else until we ask them for forgiveness.

If we don't see Hashem it is not because he is far from us, it is because he is so close to us that we take it for granted.  We have to learn to look in to find Hashem. 

From this year's Teshuva Drosha by Rabbi Wachsman

On Rosh Hashana there was a gzar din for us, and Hashem is sitting waiting for us to do Teshuva to wipe away any evil decree.  We don't understand that whether or not Iran will be able to cause major tragedy is being decided on Yom Kippur and not by governments.  Hashem is waiting for our teshuvah today.

We learn that Teshuva, Tefilla and Tzedaka avert the evil decree.  Let us look at what this means.

Recently I saw a homeless man rolling in dirt and excrement.  This person was repulsive, if he would walk in the room you would go take a shower.  This is what a neshama looks like.  Hashem takes off the soiled garment.  He can become beloved and close to Hashem.  The Yetzer Hara wants us not to be matzliach in our Teshuva, to think that we can go live our lives as we want.  The Chasam Sofer says that the Yetzer Hara masquerades as the Yetzer Tov thinking that everything is fine and we can continue the way we were. To have a wonderful Yom Kippur then to think that right after Yom Kippur we can go right back to the way we were.  We have to come back to our root, with small steps, but each small step has to be like iron, rock solid.  If we are looking and trying, the hole in the needle is tiny but it is made of iron.  As small as it is, an iron Kabalah will show that we can change. 
Hashem is going to look for those who are Kodosh, who raise themselves a level.  The purpose of the Yetzer Hara is that we should overcome it and become greater.  There is such a Yetser Hara for immorality that we has such an opportunity for Kedusha by overcoming it.  We can get used to the most abnormal things as long as we keep doing it.  We walk around with machines that are portals to incredible sources of Tumah.  We can make Kabolos and get by without it. For Kedusha.  We do not realize how many lives are being destroyed by these machines. If we don't make a decision to change we won't change.
We have to stop and think, I can be better then this, I can be great.

If a person lives 80 years he will spend 30 of them in Shabbos, Yom Tov, and erev Shabbos and Erev Yom Tov. We have to make a decision, what are we going to do with this time.  If we want to keep something from Yom Kippur, take something, decide on something that is real and get closer to Hashem.  Only the kli of Shalom lets us take something real away with us. 

Hashem is waiting for our Tefillos.  At least on Yom Kippur think about the words of the Tefillo before we say them.  As long as we are in this world we can still talk directly to Hashem,  at least on the Yomim Norayim.

Every single Tefillah will  produce results, even if a person is not that righteous, so imagine the tears of a yiddisha mama. We have to talk to the Ribono Shel Olam.

Tzedaka= it is very difficult times.  Mosdos are staggering under these difficult times.  We have to give Tzedaka.  Nothing in the world saves us like giving Tzedakah.  If someone is able to give and he doesn't, Hashem hates him and his Torah.  You can't hide money from Hashem, he knows if a person is living up to his responsibilities.  There is a tremendous joy in giving Tzedaka. 

from last year's Teshuva Drosha by Rabbi Wachsman

Teshuva on Yom Kippur is different then the rest of the year, all year long we tell Hashem that we are sorry for what we did going against Hashem's mitzvot.  On Yom Kippur we are telling Hashem that we are sorry for what we did for ourselves, because we are part of Hashem and when we damage ourselves we are also hurting Hashem. Hashem can not bear when we fall into sin, it is hurting Hashem and he is begging us to do Teshuva, to return to our source.

Hashem is waiting for even a thought of Teshuva from us.  We have to regret our past misdeeds.  We have to realize that we are not separate from Hashem.

Call in info for Rabbi Wachsman's anual Teshuvah Drosha tonight

Is it worth it?

There is a sickness in human nature that we always want what is forbidden to us. When something is really tempting you strip away the element of temptation from its being forbidden, the "glitzy garment" and ask yourself if it is really worth it.

from a Shiur on Torah Anytime:
Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis: Teshuvah - Guaranteed Happiness

Don't Rank your Mitzvot.

When we think about Mitzvot and Aveirot would should never think that this one is more important then that one because it will lead us to discount "minor" ones, and this will lead us to sin.  We should view all mitzvot as equally important.

from a Shiur on Aish Audio:

Rabbi Yitzchak Kirzner ztl

A formula for change.

When we think about improving in the new year, we should think about taking on one small thing. When we take on a small kabalah and see success, we feel a sense of accomplishment that causes us to to want to do more.

Soul Food

Teacher: Mrs. Shira Smiles Class: Elul and Rosh Hashana: Days of Closeness and Awe

The gift of Teshuvah

When Hashem created man he gave him many gifts. Hashem gives intellegence, health,appearance, and many other attributes. The most important gift of all is the gift of Teshuvah. Without Teshuvah all of the other gifts would be worth very little because when we make mistakes we need to be able to correct them or we would not be able to make the most of the other gifts that Hashem gave us.
From a Shiur by Rabbi Kirzner about Teshuvah

The fast lane to Teshuva

Declare a new beginning. You will become a new person. You will really become the person that you want to be.

How do we keep from sinning? Anyone who helps another person get closer to Hashem gets closer to Hashem himself, and keeps himself from sinning.

from the Shiur by Rabbi Lazer Brody:

The Ego Barrier

http://lazerbrody.typepad.com/lazer_beams/2010/08/the-ego-barrier.html

One of the most important ideas of OA is that if you want to keep it you have to give it away. You have to help others who need your help and you will really be helping yourself.

More from Rabbi Wachsman about Elul

In the days when bnei yisrael was going out to war to conquer Eretz Yisrael there would be announcements that anyone who met certain conditions or was afraid should go back. By the time that everyone who met these conditions had left the only ones left were a couple of bent over old Tzadikim with long beards. And yet they won. If that is the case how could there have been the need for the halachas of yefas Toar. The answer is that these Tzadikim were able to see that among the goyim there were certain pure neshamas who needed to be elevated. When these women with their holy neshamas were exposed to the kedusha of these Tzadikim they would cry about their mother and father. Not that they miss them, but what a tragedy that they did not convert also. For the tragedy of their soul falling so short of its potential.

This is our avodah for elul. To cry for our neshamas and how far they are from their true potential.

from a Shiur by Rabbi Wachsman about Elul

The purpose of tragedy.

The Chofetz Chayim says that we have to be aware that everything bad that happens in this world is there to bring us to do Teshuva. We have to do Teshuva now to prevent further tragedies.

from a Shiur by Rabbi Wachsman on Elul

Rabbi Wachsman on Elul

Teshuva means coming back to a situation of perfection.  When you do Teshuva you are coming back to the situation of before the sin.  Chet is moving away from your true essence, Teshuva is coming back to your true essence. Elul is the sixth month and Tishrei is the seventh month.  Elul is like Erev Shabbas, and Tishrei is like Shabbos.  If we don't work on Erev Shabbos, doing Teshuva, what kind of Shabbos (Tishrei) will we have.  Preparation for Rosh Hashana is the basis of our ability to continue to grow through the Yomin Tovim and beyond.  To prepare for Rosh Hashana we have to cleanse ourselves of negativity and bring Kedusha into ourselves.  We have to learn to  value the work of preparation, without work we will not grow.

We can't have Torah with out preperation, Shabbos without Erev Shabbos, and Rosh Hashana without Elul.  The preperation for the Mitzvah is where I am doing something special for my neshamah.

from a Shiur by Rabbi Efraim Wachsman, Reflections of Elul,part one

Correcting the source of all sin for Rosh Hashana.

On Rosh Hashana we have to go back and correct the source of all sin, the sin of Adam, the first man. What was the source of Adam's sin? That he wanted to make himself the king of the world and not Hashem. As we approach Rosh Hashana we have to make sure that we are putting the crown on the true king of the world, Hashem.

Rosh Hashana: Our Turn

Teacher: Mrs. Shira Smiles Class: Elul and Rosh Hashana: Days of Closeness and Awe

One of the hardest parts of OA is surrendering our right to choose, "what we are in the mood for". It is hard to give up the sense of being in control of our own lives. By choosing to give up the right to rule our world, we ultimately come closer to Hashem.

Elul: The Time for Closeness

Every victory has profound impact on our connection to God and to man. In the deepest sense, our self-esteem is built, brick by brick, by choosing to conquer our impulsivity and cravings. The problem is that we are too myopic to see the panoramic vista that this sort of battle opens up within us. We are too busy fighting. We fail, again and again. We let our failures define us and erode our belief in the fact that we are fighting a winnable battle. We all too often submit to the dictates of our bodies and silence the yearnings of the soul.
from an ariticle on aish.com -Elul: The Time for Closeness
by Rebbetzin Tzipporah Heller

Baruch Hashem I have learned that I can win the battle over my cravings.  Using the tools of OA I have learned that I can make a major difference in my life, and come closer to Hashem

Spiritual Housecleaning.

Never underestimate the value of even a thought of Teshuvah.  When you walk into a very dirty and messy kitchen you may want to feel overwhelmed and walk out, but if you did you would never have a clean kitchen.  You just have to make a start, take out the garbage, or clean a dish  That one act gets you into the swing of things and you will continue in the right direction.  It is the same way with Teshuvah- just get start- don't feel overwhelmed.

Heard in a Shiur by Reb  Kalmonovitz