Ep. 604: What Should Our Focus Be During These Early Days of Elul?

Rabbi Jacobson will discuss the following topics:What should our focus be during these early days of Elul? 05:03 • How does Av give birth to Elul? 01:04 • What is unique about the “king in the field” in Elul when we have access to G-d all year round? 08:59 • Is Elul initiated from below (Ani L’Dodi) or from above (the king in the field)? 15:29 • What are the thirteen attributes of divine compassion (Yud Gimmel Midos HaRachamim)? 20:43 • How are they related to the Yud Gimmel Tikkunei Dikna (thirteen strands of the beard)? 24:11 • What more can I do to ensure that these attributes of compassion manifest in my life? 30:27 • Is there a connection between Elul and the similar sounding word hilulah? 38:12 • What’s the best way to bless someone for a happy new year? 40:06 • Is it enough just to bless each other for a good year, or do we need to do some action as well? 42:40 • Why don’t we refrain from sounding the shofar thirty days before Rosh Hashana as we do with eating matzah before Pesach? 44:25 • What maamar would you suggest we study in Elul that discusses the spiritual energy of the month of Elul? 47:30How do I deal with a guilty past? • How to distinguish between healthy and unhealthy remorse? 49:42 • Can the mystical concept of sheviras ha’keilim help us in this process? 54:20Ki Teitzei • What lessons do we learn from living with the times, with this week’s Torah parsha? 58:55 • Why do we “go out” (ki teitzei) to wage war, and we do so “above our enemies” (al oi’vecho)? 58:55 • How does that dramatically change the way we face life challenges? 01:00:50 Who is leading our footsteps when we travel on vacation? 01:02:38Camp (follow-up) • Does Gan Israel suggest a level lower than Israel? 01:05:30