Count 40 post 1/ +2 Yom Kippur Katan

 

Embracing Elul: A Journey of Self-Discovery and Growth

The Significance of Elul

Throughout generations, the month of Elul has been revered as the most auspicious time for self-reflection, growth, and personal development. As Rabbi Joel Padowitz eloquently states, "The best time to embark on a self-development program is the first day of Elul." This period preceding our "Day of Judgment" serves as a poignant reminder of life's unpredictability, underscoring the imperative to make every moment of Elul count.

In these uncertain times, you simply cannot afford to invest anything less than your utmost effort into this Elul!

Introducing Count 40: A Transformative System

Count 40 is an innovative program designed to infuse meaning into each day from Rosh Chodesh Elul through Yom Kippur. This comprehensive system focuses on three pivotal areas:

1. Enhanced Communication: Cultivate stronger relationships with yourself, the Boreh Olam, and those around you.

2. Self-Awareness and Growth: Engage in positive introspection and daily rituals to achieve tangible personal development.

3. Spiritual Fortification: Strengthen your Emuna (faith), Bitachon (trust), and Tefilah (prayer) – the triad of spiritual resilience that will guide you through life's challenges.

Essential Tools for Your Journey

To embark on this transformative journey, you'll need:

• Unwavering Commitment: Your personal growth during Elul must be your highest priority. Pledge to see this journey through to its culmination.

• Tangible Tools: Bring along a comfortable pen to accompany you through this transformative journey. For your convenience and maximum potential for success, you will create a workbook and, with my coaching, design thoughtful exercises with dedicated work pages that provide structure for your reflections, insights, and progress tracking. Each exercise creates space for your unique process while guiding you toward meaningful breakthroughs. (Note: We're embracing the traditional approach – no digital devices. Your full cognitive engagement is crucial for unlocking lasting change.)

• Personal Journal: In addition to your workbook, get a compact notebook for your intimate conversations with the H'shem. Keep it accessible for those quiet moments of reflection, ideally at the beginning or end of each day.

• Dedicated Time: Dedicate a consistent, tranquil period in your day for focused introspection and growth work.

Embarking on Your Journey

Getting Started: Understanding Your Current State

Before we begin our journey together, let's take a moment to understand where you are right now. Create a three-column exercise in the first part of your workbook and take some time for honest reflection:

1. Column One: What strengths and talents make you uniquely you? What qualities do you like about yourself?

2. Column Two: Which areas of your life could use some loving attention and growth?

3. Column Three: What blessings or good things in your life might you take for granted but actually mean a lot to you?

This warm-up helps set the stage for your personal growth adventure. By knowing where you stand today, you'll have a clearer path forward as you work through the exercises ahead.

Setting Meaningful Goals

While comprehensive life goals encompass various domains, our Elul focus centers on
Communication,
Character refinement,
& Spiritual growth.
For each area, articulate your aspirations for the next 40 days. Make these goals personal and specific to your journey.

For example, if controlling anger is an area you wish to improve, your goal might read:
"I will pause for five deep breaths before responding when I feel anger arising, and I will reflect each evening on instances where I successfully managed my anger, noting the techniques that proved most effective."
This transforms a general aspiration into a concrete, actionable plan with measurable outcomes.


Focus Your Spiritual Growth

While we may feel overwhelmed by the many areas requiring improvement, focus is essential:

• Select two crucial aspects of your character to refine. This targeted approach increases your chances of success and often catalyzes positive change in other areas.

• Create a timeline for spiritual growth. If committed to shmirat halashon, for example, designate specific hours each day to abstain from lashon hara. Gradually expand these time frames over the coming months, lending authenticity to your commitment.

• Embrace accountability by considering a public declaration of your intentions. Just as someone trying to overcome a habit might share their goal with associates to create support, you can harness community in your spiritual endeavors.

Find a growth partner striving in the same area or facing their own unique challenge. This partnership fosters mutual encouragement and creates a safe space for vulnerability and progress.

A Call to Action

Life's hectic pace often relegates personal growth to a perpetual "someday" status. This Elul presents a unique opportunity to break that cycle. Commit to this program, and when Rosh Hashanah arrives, you'll stand before the Creator with pride, knowing you've invested your utmost in becoming a better Oved H’shem

This year will be different. This year, you'll approach the Yamim Noraim with confidence, having dedicated yourself to meaningful personal and spiritual growth. Embrace this journey, and let the transformative power of Elul guide you towards your highest potential. We wish you tremendous hatzlacha (success) on this path and look forward to congratulating you on the other side of your journey

Begin Your Transformation Today

As our sages teach us, "If not now, when?" The window for transformation that Elul provides is precious and fleeting. Take the first step today—prepare your materials, set aside your dedicated time, and commit your heart to this sacred journey. Remember, even small changes, when pursued with sincere devotion, can yield profound spiritual fruits. H’shem awaits your efforts and stands ready to assist you in this holy endeavor. May your Elul be filled with meaningful growth, and may you emerge renewed, with clarity of purpose and spiritual vigor to carry you through the coming year.

Yom Kippur Katan: The Power of Elul

Elul is a unique time in our calendar year. During this period in our history, H’shem forgave us for the Sin of the Chet Haegel,  and called Moshe back to receive the second set of Luchot to be given to Am Yisroel on Yom Kippur. Tradition teaches that events in our nation's history repeat themselves, making this an auspicious time to focus on the power of teshuvah (repentance) and the closeness Hashem grants us during this month. It is at this time that Hashem is "in the field," referring to His availability and closeness to anyone who wants to draw near to Him and correct their ways.

Erev Rosh Chodesh, also known as Yom Kippur Katan, involves customs such as fasting, selichos, teshuvah, and other minhagim..

Selichos, Seder Yom Kippur Katan, and Fasting: Many have the custom of reciting Selichos and Seder Yom Kippur Katan. Those who recite Selichos on Erev Rosh Chodesh are traditionally meant to do so before Mincha. However, the custom evolved to include saying it after Mincha. A woman who recites this prayer at home or without a Minyan should omit the fourth paragraph, "Transgression of the entire community are confessed" (Igros Moshe).

Tefilah & Tehillim: According to Kabbalah, Tehillim "protects a person, his household, and the whole generation from all sorts of physical and spiritual maladies. Slow recitation of Dovid Hamelech’s profound words affects an outpouring of H’shem's blessing and kindness."

From the first day of Rosh Chodesh Elul until and including Hoshana Rabbah, we recite Perek 27 in Tehillim twice daily. The poskim advise that during the month of Elul, one should add various tefillos and recite 10 chapters of Tehillim every day. This way, one can complete Sefer Tehillim twice before Rosh Hashanah. During Aseres Yemei Teshuvah, it is recommended to recite more chapters of Tehillim each day to complete the book a third time by Yom Kippur.

Communication: This is an opportunity to pour out your heart to Hashem. Use your words and thoughts to express your desires and regrets. Begin to connect with H’shem on a level you personally have never achieved before.

Self-Improvement: Now is the time to take account of where you were last year at this time and where you told yourself you would be.

If you accomplished what you set out to do, amazing! Let's achieve even greater successes this year. If not, commit to this time being different. This time, you will be focused and accomplish the goals you set out to achieve.

Emunah, Bitachon, & Tefillah: Evaluate where you are in Emunah (faith), Bitachon (trust), and Tefillah (prayer). Connect with the strength of the day in all your Tefilot, as well as your trust and belief that Hashem wants you to succeed and is just as invested in your success as you are. Make Him your partner in your journey, and draw your strength from His love, trust, and belief in you.

1 https://www.chabad.org/kabbalah/article_cdo/aid/380082/jewish/Elul-Preparing-for-a-Lion.htm

2 https://www.chabad.org/kabbalah/article_cdo/aid/379262/jewish/The-Elul-Process.htm

3 “Days of Majesty”  Rabbi Daniel Yaakov Travis pg 39

4 https://shulchanaruchharav.com/halacha/yom-kippur-katan-of-elul/

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