Of course during Elul we are all doing everything we can to improve ourselves and work on our relationship with G-d. But how about our relationships with other humans? Are we also working on improving that?

One simple suggestion that will make you much more loved in the eyes of everyone who shares the bus/office/house with you is to think about the ringtone on your cellphone. Even kosher phones can earn you demerits if you annoy everyone around you by having it switched on in the wrong place at the wrong time, or making it too loud, or using an annoying ringtone.

Did you know that the (really annoying) Nokia tune ringtone is actually based on a 19th century guitar tune called Gran Vals, composed by Spanish musician Francisco Tárrega?

You can see and hear it here:

(If you want to learn how to play it yourself the sheet music is here: F.Tarrega – Gran Vals)

Isn’t that much better than the ringtone?

Think of others when you set your ringtone. Choose something others can bear to listen to, or best of all, leave it on silent, so that you don’t have to disturb others at all when it rings.