| Shabbat | Elul 25 | 5703 | | Say the entire Tehillim in the early morning. Day of farbrengen. S'lichot immediately after midnight, but on the remaining s'lichot days - in the early morning. When Nitzavim and Vayeilech are separate, the Maftir and Shevi'i of Nitzavim begin at Re'ei natati l'fanecha... | | Torah lessons: | Chumash: Nitzavim-Vayeilech, Shevi'i with Rashi. | | Tehillim: 119, 1-96. Also 73-75. | | Tanya: XIX. "He wraps (p. 489) ...(as follows). (p. 491). | |
The Alter Rebbe related: When I was in Mezritch I heard from my Rebbe, the Maggid, in the name of the Baal Shem Tov: The seventh month (Tishrei), first of the months of the year,1 is blessed by G-d Himself, on Shabbat mevarchim - last Shabbat in the month of Elul.2 With this power3 Israel blesses the other months eleven times a year.
It is written, Atem nitzavim hayom, "You stand this day."4 This day refers to Rosh Hashana which is the day of Judgment (as it is written, "The day came,"5 which Targum renders, the day of the great judgment came). Yet you remain standing firmly upright (nitzavim), meaning - you will be vindicated in judgment.6
On the Shabbat preceding Rosh Hashana, the last Shabbat in Elul, we read the parsha of Atem nitzavim, which is G-d's blessing7 on the Shabbat-of-blessing the seventh month (Shabbat mevarchim). That seventh month (Tishrei) is itself sated8 - and in turn satiates all Israel - with an abundance of good for the duration of the (coming) year."
