SEDRA : Vayelech Hertz Chumash p. 878 Deuteronomy Chap. 29 verse 9

This week's Sedra is generously sponsored by Maurice Sackville.

SYNOPSIS:

Moses was 120 years old, and he announced that his leadership was drawing to its close. He revealed that Joshua had been chosen by G-d as his successor who would take command and lead Israel successfully to the Promised Land. In the presence of the entire assembly, Moses urged Joshua to be strong and courageous, and to place his full trust in G-d. Moses then committed the Law to writing and delivered it to the Kohanim and the Elders. When there would be a king over Israel he would be charged with reading it publicly on Succot during the year after the Sabbatical year to the whole nation assembled at the Sanctuary. In this way, every man, woman, and child of Israel would be constantly reminded of their obligation to obey G-d. The Book of the Law,(Torah) written by Moses, was to be placed by the Levites at the side of the Aron Kodesh, to bear witness against Israel if they were ever to deviate from its teachings. Then Moses was told to assemble the people to teach them the passages of "Ha'azinu," which would again remind them of the consequences of turning against G-d.

HAPHTORAH HERTZ CHUMASH P. 883 Isaiah Chap 61, verse 10.

This is the last (seventh) of the Haphtorot of Consolation. It is usually read on the Shabbat before Rosh Hashanah. In exalted terms the prophet describes the blessings which await the faithful.

TELL ME RABBI .......SELICHOT:

The Selichot are prayers of supplication in which we ask G-d's forgiveness for our failings, and promise amendment. They arouse our Jewish consciousness and direct our thoughts towards the higher purpose of life as we prepare for the Days of Awe.
"SELACH" means "forgive" and the Bible has numerous examples of the use of such prayers. A Midrash describes King David's concern for Israel to obtain forgiveness for their recurring sins. Said the Holy One to him : "Whenever Israel is afflicted for its sinfulness let them appear before me united in prayer, confess their sins and recite Selichot, and I will pardon them".
The dominant refrain of the Selichot are the 13 Attributes of Divine Mercy :- "1. The Lord, 2. The Lord, 3. G-d, 4. Merciful and 5. Gracious 6. long suffering (patient) and 7. abundant in goodness and 8. Truth 9. keeping Mercy to the thousandth generation 10. forgiving iniquity 11. and transgression 12. and sin 13. and will clear those who repent ..."Ex. 35,6) These Divine characteristics were declared to Moses when he turned to G-d to save Israel who had sinned with the Golden Calf.
The circumstances are thus described in the Talmud: "The Holy One drew a Tallit around him like a Chazan and showed Moses the Order of Selichot saying : "Whenever Israel sins, let them carry out this service before Me and I will forgive them". There are fixed Selichot for each of the Selichot Days. We begin Selichot on the First Day of the Week in which Rosh Hashannah occurs. Although Selichot are usually recited at dawn the first Selichot begin at Midnight after Shabbat.