Elul Zman and the Three Zmanim אלול זמן און די דריי זמנים

Three zmanim

In most yeshivos the year is divided into three zmanim ^[1]. Elul zman begins on Rosh Chodesh Elul and lasts until after Yom Kippur: about six weeks, the shortest but most intense, since it comes before the Yamim Noraim ^[1]. Winter zman begins after Sukkos and lasts until about two weeks before Pesach, five months, six in a leap year ^[1]. Summer zman begins after Pesach and lasts until Rosh Chodesh Av or Tisha B'Av, about three months ^[1].

Elul zman

In Elul the yeshiva changes. The beis medrash is fuller, the mussar seder longer, and even the bochur who slept through the summer is suddenly up before dawn. In Lithuania they said: "In Elul even the fish in the water tremble."

Between the zmanim

Between the zmanim is "bein hazmanim", the vacation. A Litvish bochur dates his whole life by zmanim; a Chasidish bochur by the Yomim Tovim at the Rebbe. Both know the best day of the year is the first day of zman, and also the last.