David HaMelech said: Va’ani kirvas Elokim li tov (As for me, being close to Hashem is what’s considered good). What King David (David HaMelech) desired was only one thing: to be close with Hashem.
The time between Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur is known as the Ten Days of Repentance. T’shuvah enables us to become close to Him again. The Rambam (ibid. 7:6-7) expresses that the main point of t’shuvah is rebuilding our relationship with Hashem: “T’shuvah is great because it brings a man closer to the Sh’chinah… Yesterday he was loathsome, distanced from Hashem and an abomination, but today he is beloved, a delight, close, and a friend… Before, when he davened, Hashem did not listen, and when he did mitzvos, they were torn up before Him… Today, he clings to the Sh’chinah… He calls out to Hashem and is answered…and he does mitzvos, which are received with joy.”
Many have the custom of taking on extra stringencies on themselves in order to develop a pattern of more meticulous religious observance. It is also customary to listen to shiurim, learn musar, and to give tz’dakah during this time period.
The Rambam in Hilchos T’shuvah (The Laws of Repentance 2:6), says, “Despite the fact that t’shuvah and crying out to Hashem are always timely, during the Ten Days between Rosh HaShanah and Yom HaKippurim it is exceedingly appropriate, and is accepted immediately, as it says, ‘Seek Hashem when He is to be found’ (Yeshayahu 55:6).” In Maseches Rosh HaShanah (18a) it explains: “Seek Hashem when He is to be found – are the days between Rosh HaShanah and Yom HaKippurim.”
The Rambam continues in Hilchos T’shuvah (3:4): “…Every person should view himself all year as if he were half innocent and half guilty. And that is the way he should look at the world, as well, as if it were half innocent and half guilty. If he would do just one sin, he would thereby tip both himself and the entire world towards the “guilty” side and cause great destruction. And if did just one mitzvah, he would tip both himself and the entire world towards the “innocent” side and cause for himself and for them salvation, as it says, “The righteous person is the foundation of the world” – because his being righteous tipped the world for good, and saved it.”
List of People Who Need a r’fuah sh’leimah (a complete recovery)
Please recite Psalms 20, 30, 88, 121, and 130.
Binyamin Yaakov ben Ariel
Nesanel ben Bella Butio
Marik ben Raya
Reuven Shalom ben Sarah Leah
HaRav Shmuel Yaakov ben Yenta
Nasan Fytel ben Yehudis
Shoshanah bas Puah
Shani Shoshana bas Lily Leah
Esther Hadassah bas Devorah
Mitali Naomi bas Gilah Farcha
Rivkah bas Shoshanah
Brachah bas Shoshanah
Chayah Sophia bas Fanya
Mazal bas Rachel
Diana bas Berta
Alvera bas Sarah
Chayah Dinah bas Chanah Devorah
Leah Ilana bas Yonah
Baila Henya bas Davida Yehudit
Ilanah Devorah bas Freidel
To add names of individuals who need a r’fuah sh’leimah to next week’s T’hilim column, please email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and complete the Google form.
