TODAY IN JUDAISM: Thursday, September 13, 2012

Chabad.org
Today is: Thursday, Elul 26, 5772 · September 13, 2012

Today's Laws & Customs

Selichot

The Selichot ("supplication") prayers are recited in the early morning hours, before the morning prayers, in preparation for the "Days of Awe" of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

Links: More on Selichot


Elul Observances

As the last month of the Jewish year, Elul is traditionaly a time of introspection and stocktaking -- a time to review one's deeds and spiritual progress over the past year and prepare for the upcoming "Days of Awe" of Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur.

As the month of Divine Mercy and Forgiveness (see "Today in Jewish History" for Elul 1) it is a most opportune time for teshuvah ("return" to G-d), prayer, charity, and increased Ahavat Yisrael (love for a fellow Jew) in the quest for self-improvement and coming closer to G-d. Chassidic master Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi likens the month of Elul to a time when "the king is in the field" and, in contrast to when he is in the royal palace, "everyone who so desires is permitted to meet him, and he receives them all with a cheerful countenance and shows a smiling face to them all."

Specific Elul customs include the daily sounding of the shofar (ram's horn) as a call to repentance. The Baal Shem Tov instituted the custom of reciting three additional chapters of Psalms each day, from the 1st of Elul until Yom Kippur (on Yom Kippur the remaining 36 chapters are recited, thereby completing the entire book of Psalms). Click below to view today's Psalms.

Chapter 76 Chapter 77 Chapter 78

Elul is also the time to have one's tefillin and mezuzot checked by an accredited scribe to ensure that they are in good condition and fit for use.

Links: More on Elul


Daily Quote

And you shall burst forth to the west, and to the east, and to the north and to the south.

- Genesis 28:14


Daily Study

Chitas and Rambam for today:

Chumash: Nitzavim, 5th Portion Deuteronomy 30:7-30:10 with Rashi
English / Hebrew Linear Translation | Video Class

Tehillim: Chapter 119, Verses 97-176
Hebrew text
English text

Tanya: Iggeret HaKodesh, end of Epistle 17
English Text: Lessons in Tanya
Hebrew Text
• Audio Class: Listen | Download
Video Class

Rambam:
• Sefer Hamitzvos:
English Text | Hebrew Text | Audio: Listen | Download | Video Class
• 1 Chapter: Kiddush HaChodesh Chapter Seventeen
English Text | Hebrew Text | Audio: Listen | Download | Video Class
• 3 Chapters: Tum'at Met Chapter 3, Tum'at Met Chapter 4, Tum'at Met Chapter 5
English Text | Hebrew Text | Audio: Listen | Download

Hayom Yom:
English Text | Video Class
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