Sabbath Keepers Fellowship & Prison Ministry
Ovadyah Ben Yisrael

Reishyth Tzom B’elul is the beginning of the fast of the sixth Hebrew month, a traditional forty-day fast of repentance during the days leading up to Yom Hakippurym.

On the eve of the first of the sixth Hebrew month, the shofar is blown as a clarion call to repentance.

It is blown again on each of the forty days to “awaken the slumberers” from their apathy and warn them of the impending arrival of their King.

“Then the kingdom of the heavens shall be compared to ten maidens who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

And five of them were wise, and five foolish.

Those who were foolish, having taken their lamps, took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their containers with their lamps.

Now while the bridegroom took time, they all slumbered and slept.

And at midnight a cry was heard, ‘See, the bridegroom is coming, go out to meet him!’

Then all those maidens rose up and trimmed their lamps.

And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’

But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, indeed, there would not be enough for us and you.

Instead, go to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’

And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast, and the door was shut.

And later the other maidens also came, saying, ‘Master, Master, open up for us!’

But he answering, said, ‘Amein, I say to you, I do not know you.’

Watch therefore, because you do not know the day nor the hour in which the Son of Adam is coming.”

The prayers of Selichoth are also begun on this day.