Q. See question above. How soon should a person engage in the above? Should one do it before Elul begins?

A. The sooner the better it is. Since as our Sages explain the Poskim stress that the greatest merit is given to the one that came to shul first or starts any other mitzva or shiur. This is even more significant and powerful, when one becomes the essential guide and reason for others to join and follow him, as he receives a reward equivalent to the compensation of all that followed.

Horav Dovid Pam Shlit’a pointed out a similar ruling in Eishel Avrohom – Tanino (H. Tefilin – Magen Avrohom 3).” Medresh Rabba (Bamidbar 21) mentions that Yehoshua bin Nun merited his position because he always was the first to come and set the Beis Midrash for Moshe Rabbenu and his most essential teachings.

Even more, it is important to do so a.s.a.p., since by seeing early the whole picture by Rosh Chodesh, one may be the first in line.

Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by, Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu and Horav Kalman Ochs Shlit’a