Derekh for Life

Forty days of return

From Rosh Chodesh Elul through Ne'ilah: one short lesson a day through Rambam's Laws of Teshuvah, Psalm 27, the Thirteen Attributes, and an honest cheshbon hanefesh — ending with what you carry into the year.

Elul

The month of return: what teshuvah actually is (and isn't), the shofar's wake-up call, and the daily psalm.

Selichot

Out of the depths — the Thirteen Attributes and the prayers of the season.

The Ten Days

Rosh Hashanah's readings, Avinu Malkeinu, and the days when the gates are open.

Yom Kippur and after

Vidui, Yonah, Isaiah's fast — and the last chapter of Rambam's Laws of Teshuvah: serving from love.

Every source is real

Each day of the journey is grounded in a verified text — Torah, Mishnah, Talmud, Rambam, Shulchan Arukh — cited and openable. Nothing invented, ever.

Free tools for this moment: When is Rosh Hashanah? · Today's learning

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Questions

When does Elul start?

Rosh Chodesh Elul falls about a month before Rosh Hashanah — the journey anchors itself to the coming Rosh Hashanah automatically and begins 29 days before.

What is a cheshbon hanefesh?

An 'accounting of the soul' — the Elul practice of honestly reviewing the year: what needs repair with people first, then with God. The journey pairs each lesson with a private reflection prompt.

I've never done anything for Elul before. Is this for beginners?

Yes — the lessons assume no background, and each is a few minutes. The whole point of the season is that starting counts.