Sometimes I call myself the calendar girl. No, not because my picture is up on someones wall but because I am keeper of the calendar at Congregation Melech Yisrael. One part of my job description is to know what weve done, where and when we did it and what we are going to do. Baruch HaShem, we have many government employees attending CMY and they need to know when the High Holy days are a year in advance so they can book the time off. We are one of the Messianic congregations around the world that keep the feast days on the exact day they fall on. In addition I am part of the team that plans the events at the shul, hence the calendar girl.
I recently picked up my Chabad Lubavitch Jewish Art Calendar, my favorite calendar because of the beautiful renderings for each month. I realized that the month of Elul is soon approaching. My first thought was that many people, believing and non-believing, think that HaShem, the Creator of the Universe is unapproachable. This of course is not true. Being a believer in Messiah Yeshua I know, without a doubt, how incredibly approachable He is. Again, many do not! My next thought is that through prayer and repentance Teshuvah and obedience, HaShem becomes totally approachable. If we are willing and sincere in our repentance He will answer our cry.
As we approach the month of Elul (August 18th) we have an incredible opportunity to clean up our act, get straight with HaShem and be (so) ready to approach a so-called unapproachable G-d. Elul is a time to reflect, a time to gather the things we have hid in our hearts and our minds and release them to HaShem the Al-mighty. As I studied Elul, I came upon three levels of forgiveness. Firstly, Selichah, forgiveness. We must ask forgiveness if we have committed a sin against man or G-d! I am sorry for what I did L-rd! Please forgive me. If we have sinned against man we are to go to them and ask for forgiveness. We are to sincerely say that we are truly sorry for having done whatever we did and for them to forgive us. Hopefully the other party is a forgiving person because that brings us to Mechilah, wiping away. Usually this is the response to the request of putting the relationship back together before the sin occurred. This is not humanly possible. We as flesh tend to hold on to grudges but with divine intervention all things are possible and all the ugliness can be wiped away. Lastly is Kapparah, atonement. As we go through the month of Elul, repent, approach the Al-mighty Who comforts us and we are forgiven! This miraculous culminates on Yom Kippur.
The substance of Selichot prayers are the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy of G-d. HaShem, HaShem compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in kindness and truth, preserver of kindness for thousands of generations, forgiver of iniquity, willful sin and error, and Who cleanses, Shemot 34:6-7. The following is a brief explanation of the Attributes. (1) HaShem, the Name denotes mercy and G-d is merciful even before a person sins; (2) G-d is merciful after the person has sinned; (3) EL, the Name denotes power, G-d is powerful; (4) Rachum, compassionate; (5) ve-Chanun, G-d is gracious even to the undeserving; (6) Erech Apayim, slow to anger G-d gives us chances to repent and return, Teshuvah! (7) Ve-Rav Chessed, abundant in kindness; (8) Ve-Emet, truth. G-ds Word never returns void; (9) Notzer Chessed La-Alafim, Preserver of kindness for thousands of generations; (10) Nose Avon, Forgiver of iniquity, G-d forgives us if we repent; (11) Va-Phesha, willful sin, G-d forgives those who willfully sin if they repent; (12) VeChataah, error; a sin committed out of carelessness or apathy and (13) VeNake, He Who cleanses. G-d wipes away our sins when we repent of our sins.
The Four Steps to Repentance is a process which will allow us to wipe away our sins and begin anew! Firstly we must leave the sin. One cannot repent if they continue to do the sin. Secondly, we must have sincere regret that we have sinned. Thirdly, confess to HaShem and last but not least to accept the future of not sinning again! Please keep in mind that Teshuvah is an ongoing process not a fast fix for sin.
There is a very simple but profound statement in the Talmud, (Masechet Yoma 38B), If a person wants to make himself unclean he is permitted to do so; if a person wants to make himself clean, he is helped.
I would like to thank Rabbi Moshe Cordovero, Tomer Devorah; the Artscroll Siddur and HaShem the Al-mighty.
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