[Avodah] Of Elul, L'Dovid, and Golems

[Micha Berger via Avodah]

Since we're reviving this perenial...

The connection between Elul and "Teshuvah Season" dates back at least to
Vayiqra Rabba 21 which ties "ori", "yish'i" and "ki yitzpeneini besukko"
to RH, YK and Sukkos respectively.

R' Chaim haKohein from Aram Tzova (may they see shalom there bimheirah
beyameinu), a talmid of R' Chaim Vital, may or may not have saying LeDovid
in his siddur, depending on who found the more authentic edition. If
he did, he attributed it to the 13 sheimos found in the pereq, which
correspond to the 13 Middos haRachamim.

A more popular variant was saying it Mon, Thu and Shabbos Minchah
when returning the seifer Torah. Others included it in the longer
Mon and Thu Tachanun.

The custom that actually caught on, of saying LeDavid H' Ori at the end
of davening twice a day from RC Elul until HR is Seifer Chemdas Yamim,
of probably Sabbatean heritage. Still, given the heritage of the basic
idea, does the origin of this particular variant matter so much?

BTW, Granikim don't say it for Shir-shel-Yom reasons. An argument
the kol hamosif goreia.

:-)BBii!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger             For those with faith there are no questions.
micha at aishdas.org        For those who lack faith there are no answers.
http://www.aishdas.org                     - Rav Yaakov of Radzimin
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