Faith

What Is the Meaning of "Brit Shelosh Esreh"

AA

Question

In the Selichot, we say, "Remember for us today the covenant of thirteen." I do not understand what the meaning of this sentence is; what covenant is being referred to? 2. What should one intend when hearing the shofar blasts in Selichot? And also on Rosh Hashanah? Thank you

Answer

Hello and blessings. Sorry for the delay in providing the answer. A. The intention is to the covenant that Hashem promised Moshe: that whenever the Thirteen Attributes are recited, Hashem passes to the Throne of Mercy. B. During the shofar blowing in Elul, one should awaken to repentance and remember that the Day of Judgment is coming soon. During the blasts of Rosh Hashanah, one should intend to fulfill a positive commandment from the Torah, and also remember the words of the Rambam. Rambam, Hilchot Teshuvah, chapter 3, halacha 4: Although the blowing of the shofar on Rosh Hashanah is a decree of Scripture, there is a hint in it, namely: Awake, sleepers, from your sleep, and slumberers, arise from your slumber; search your deeds and return in repentance, and remember your Creator. Those who forget the truth amid the vanities of time and err all their days in emptiness and futility, which can neither help nor save, look to your souls, improve your ways and your deeds, and let each one of you abandon his evil path and his evil thought. Therefore, every person should see himself all year long as though he were half meritorious and half liable, and likewise the entire world as half meritorious and half liable. If he commits one sin, he tips himself and the entire world to the side of liability and causes its destruction; if he performs one mitzvah, he tips himself and the entire world to the side of merit and causes salvation and deliverance for himself and for them, as it is stated, The righteous is the foundation of the world - this refers to one who acted righteously and tipped the entire world to merit and saved it. Because of this matter, all the house of Israel are accustomed to increase charity and good deeds and to engage in mitzvot from Rosh Hashanah until Yom Kippur more than during the rest of the year. Success, Binyamin Shmueli

Tags:faithJewish observance

Articles you might missed