Chodesh Elul
1. We do not announce the new month the Shabbos before Rosh HaShana. Some say that the reason is because it is well known when the new month begins since it is Rosh HaShana.
2. Many recite the Yom Kippur Koton service for Elul even if they don’t observe this custom the rest of the year.
3. The custom of the Shulchan Aruch was to say Slichos the entire month.
4. The reason for this was the fact that Moshe Rabeinu ascended the mountain to receive the second Luchos and it is a time of favor from HaShem.
5. Our custom is to add the mizmor of “L’Dovid Hashem Ori” to our davening morning and evening.
6. There was a custom for the shamos to announce this month “Shuva Banim Shovavim” - it is a time for tshuva.
7. We blow the shofar the entire month until Erev Rosh HaShana. Some start from the first day of Rosh Chodesh, some from the second day.
8. There is a custom to recite ten paragraphs of tehilim each day with the tzibur.
9. Kaddish may be recited if ten people said tehilim together. If there were latecomers, wait and say at least one paragraph together.
10. We start saying Slichos the Sunday before Rosh HaShana unless Rosh HaShana is on Monday or Tuesday. In that case, we start saying Slichos on Sunday the week before.
11. One can say Slichos without a minyon, omitting the 13 midos and those passages that are written in Aramaic.
12. We begin each one of the Slichos With “Elokeinu”, etc. unless that paragraph already begins with one of the names of HaShem.
13. It is customary that the one who leads the Slichos also leads the other tefilos of that day. Some even say he takes precedence over one who is observing a yahrtzeit
14. Many have the custom to fast, at least for part of the day, on the first day of Slichos.
15. Some make “HaToras Nidorim”, rescinding of the vows, forty days before Rosh HaShana.
16. Some read the portions about the creation of the world, from 25 Elul until Rosh HaShana.
17. One should initiate serious introspection and confession during this month.
18. The Kaf HaChayim quotes sources that the people who will participate in leading the Rosh HaShana service should distance themselves from those items or conduct that could bring about “tuma”.

Tkias Shofar
1. One should blow shofar in a standing position, not even leaning on a table, etc. If one sat, he still fulfills the mitzva.
2. During the tkios before Musaf, it is only a custom for the listeners to stand, not an obligation.
3. If one already heard shofar, and is blowing for another person, that person should say the brochos. Some have the custom for the one blowing to say the brochos.
4. It is preferable to hold the shofar on the right side, lifted upwards.
5. If one arrives to shul late and didn’t hear the brochos, he should immediately say them quietly before the next set of tkios.
6. The mitzva begins with sunrise, but if one blew after daybreak it is still valid. The custom, however, is to wait until before Musaf to do the Mitzvah.
7. Already at the time of reciting the brochos, one should grip the shofar.
8. One should not blow shofar on Rosh HaShana for no reason. However, he may blow:
A) If he is not sure he heard or blew well.
B) If there is a custom to add certain sounds.
C) If he wishes to fulfill various opinions in halacha.
9. Any type of sound which emits from the shofar is acceptable. This includes shrill or deep sounds.
10. The Aruch HaShulchan feels that a barely audible sound is not acceptable for tkias shofar, as it does not qualify as a “kol”, a legitimate sound.
11. The sound of the tkiah should be as smooth as possible. It should not sound like two different sounds but should be evident that it is one tkiah.
12. Many opinions feel that one must hear the shofar without the use of a hearing aid or such amplifiers.
13. The one who announces each sound should not do so until the amain of the people is completed. Also he should not announce a new sound until the previous one is completed in its entirety.
14. A most interesting question is - does the place where one performs the mitzva and the person performing it have to be clean, just like when reciting the Shma, or except for the brochos, can the mitzva itself be performed in any place or circumstance?
15. The one listening to the sounds of the shofar should concentrate on hearing all the sounds from beginning to end.
16. The shofar itself should be clean and beautiful. Particles of foreign matter might constitute an obstruction or change the sound and invalidate the mitzva.
17. The Rambam reminds us that the shofar on Rosh HaShana has a power to awaken us to the task at hand which is tshuva and rectifying our ways. Perhaps this is another reason why the shofar is bent - to remind us that presently our actions are also not straight.
 

Vidui
1. There is a definite mitzva to confess one's sins on Yom Kippur. The verbal expression is the positive application of the mitzva of tshuva.
2. Sins committed in the usual interaction between people require one to pacify his fellow man before he even begins to confess to HaShem. Of course, the two requirements are also obligatory for women.
3. Although one vidui would suffice, however, since the whole day of Yom Kippur atones, we repeat our confessional to include infractions incurred during the day itself.
4. We actually say this confessional ten times:
(1) Erev Yom Kippur at Mincha. (2) Maariv (3) 4 times (at Shachris, Musaf, Mincha, Neila) (4) 4 times (at the repetition of Shmone Esrei)
5. The plain statement “we have sinned” is the essence of vidui.
6. If one is aware of a sin that he has committed that is not listed among those in the vidui, he should mention it himself.
7. Although one does not publicize sins, the recitation of vidui in unison is permissable.
8. Vidui should definitely be said in a standing position, not sitting or leaning. Some recite it in a bent position.
9. One should not interrupt in the middle of vidui, but it is permissable to respond to kedusha, kaddish, etc.
10. The vidui must be accompanied by a sincere effort at tshuva. This is the resolve not to return again to the state of sin.
11. One must have a strong conviction in the power of Yom Kippur for it to work as an atonement.
12. In the list of “Al Chet”, the sins to which we confess, there are numerous ones that relate to the speech of a human being.
(1) With the speech of the lips (2) With the words of the mouth (3) The confession of the mouth (4) Foolishness of the mouth (5) Contamination of the lips (6) Not telling the truth (7) Loshon HaRa (8) The speech of our lips (9) Tale bearing
This is about one quarter of the statements listed – certainly a point to think about.
13. The confession includes items that relate to character traits and items regarding interpersonal relationships. A most interesting “sin” is the last one mentioned. We have sinned by being in a state of confusion. The explanation is in reference to man’s bewilderment at G-d’s ways in the world, and the constant second-guessing of Him. Perhaps since it is last, it is also the source of many of our problems.
May we merit a good and healthy year!