OU HOLIDAYS Elul The 13 Midot of Rachamim By Rabbi Menachem Leibtag

Our recitation of the thirteen ‘middot ha-rachamim’ [God’s thirteen attributes of mercy] is certainly the focal point of the ‘selichot’ prayers and the highlight of ‘ne’ila’ on Yom Kippur. But how are we to understand this recitation? Is it a ‘hokus pokus’ type magic formula through which one can achieve automatic atonement? In the following shiur, we attempt to prove quite the opposite. By undertaking a comprehensive analysis of when and why God first declared these middot (in the aftermath of ‘chet ha-egel’), we will show how their recitation relates to the very essence of ‘tefilla’ [prayer] and our special relationship with God. Our conclusions will also help us appreciate the transition from Rosh Hashana to Yom Kippur; as the focus of our prayers shifts from ‘din’ [judgement] to ‘rachamim’ [mercy].