Search results for: ""Elul""

When To Say Ma'ariv Psalm 27
Say Psalm 27 after alenu during Elul and most of Tishrei.  For more about Psalm 27, see When To Say Psalm 27/L'David Adonai Ori V'Yish'i.
Greetings for the New Year
For greetings for the New Year, say:
  • “Ketiva V'Chatima Tova”
              From: Rosh Chodesh Elul
              Until:  Eve of (erev) Rosh Hashana (when the holiday begins).
  • “L'Shana Tova Tikateiv V'Tichateim”
            From:  First night of Rosh Hashana (when the holiday begins)
            Until:   Musaf of the first day of Rosh Hashana.
  • “Gmar Chatima Tova”
               From:  Musaf Rosh Hashana
               Until:   End of Yom Kippur.
  • “Gmar Tov”
               From: Yom Kippur
               Until:  Musaf Hoshana Rabba.
 
When To Say Psalm 27/L'David Adonai Ori V'Yish'i
Begin saying L'David Adonai ori v'yish'i (Psalm 27) on the first day (at night) of Elul, not the first day of Rosh Chodesh Elul (the 30th of Av). The last day to say this Psalm is 22nd of Tishrei (Shmini Atzeret). This Psalm is recited twice daily, in shacharit after shir shel yom and in ma'ariv after alenu, including on Shabbat and Jewish festivals.
Changing Your Customs (Minhag) in New Community
When moving to a community with customs different from your own, adopt the customs of your new community but ONLY:
  • If you intend to stay in that new community, and
  • If the entire community follows the same customs.
Note An Ashkenazi who moves to a Sefardi community could eat kitniyot on Passover but would have to wake up extremely early for selichot and say them for the month of Elul, so think carefully about the trade-off!