The
Month of Elul
"I
am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine."
(Song of Songs
5:3)
Elul 3,
5767/August 17, 2007
The month of Elul, the month which precedes
Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur, the "Days of
Awe", is best described by the verse from the Song of Songs, "I am my beloved's, and my beloved is
mine." (Song of Songs 5:3) The Hebrew words of the same verse, "Ani ledodi vedodi li" form an acronym which
spells the word "Elul."
This
love and intimacy between G-d and His people Israel characterizes the
special nature of the month of Elul.
As we begin to
intensify our efforts to take stock of ourselves and to draw near again to
G-d, He has, as it were, through the holy Jewish calendar, sent us a
reminder that, come what may, we are meant for each other: "I am my beloved's, and my beloved is
mine." (ibid) Not only has G-d bid us this greeting of love, but
were taught that during the month of Elul, G-d's good will toward His
beloveds is such that He can be pictured as a King who has left the
foreboding confines of His palace to step out into the fields and villages
and seek His subjects. In other words, before you and I have even
begun our journey back toward G-d, He has come to
us.
Rosh Chodesh
Elul - the new month of Elul is always sandwiched between two
Torah readings, each with its own special message for the month of Elul. Parashat Re'eh, ( Deuteronomy
11:26-16:17), which we read on the Shabbat preceding Rosh Chodesh Elul contains the following
words: "You are the children of HaShem
your G-d." (ibid 14:1) Yes, we are G-d's children and G-d our
Father will never forsake us, come what will. Furthermore, the portion of Re'eh begins with a choice; a
warning and a challenge: "Behold, I set
before you this day a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you listen to
the commandments of HaShem your G-d, which I command you this day; and the
curse, if you don't listen to the commandments of HaShem your G-d, but
turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other
gods, which you have not known." (ibid 11:26-28)
G-d
loves us as a Father, knowing that we will at times make wrong choices.
But despite our errors and despite the traps that we might set for
ourselves, G-d will not turn away from us: "You are the children of HaShem your G-d." (ibid 14:1)
But lest this assurance lead to complacency on our part, we are
told the following in the opening verse of the Torah portion of Shoftim (Deuteronomy
16:18-21:9) which we will be reading on this upcoming Shabbat: "You shall appoint for yourself judges and
officers in all your gates, which HaShem your G-d has given you, tribe by
tribe; and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment." (ibid 16:18) Moshe is instructing
the children of Israel as to how they should organize themselves as a
society when they enter and settle the land of Israel.
But the fact that the Hebrew word for "you shall" in the verse is expressed in
the singular leads our sages to understand this verse also on the level of
the individual: a person's "gates" through which he takes in the world and through which he communicates to
the world are his two eyes, two ears, two nostrils and his mouth.
These seven gates define who he is in relationship to G-d and to
others. We as individuals must place judges and officers at these seven
portals in order to keep us on the right path, making the right choices.
This is our instruction for entering the month of
Elul. G-d is busy seeking us. We must
seek him through our own adherence to His word.
Tune in to this
week's
Temple
Talk, and join Rabbi Chaim Richman and Yitzchak Reuven as
they discuss the spiritual treasures that await us in the month of
Elul. And be sure to tune in again this
upcoming week as Rabbi Richman reveals new insights into
Elul, the month that grabs us by that
hand and leads us back to our Beloved.
Due to changes currently
taking place in our multimedia department, this weeks's
Light
to the Nations teachings is a rebroadcast of last year's
Light
to the Nations: "Rosh Chodesh Elul: The unique nature and
challenge of the month of Elul: In preparation for the Days of
Awe." To view the show, please click here.
Rabbi
Richman's weekly five minute teaching on the week's Torah reading of Shoftim (Deuteronomy
16:18-21:9), will be posted on the Universal Torah Network this upcoming
week, as will the teaching of Torah reading Ki Teitzei ( Deuteronomy
21:10-25:19).
The High Holidays are rapidly approaching. This year,
while you participate in the holiday services, learn about how Rosh
HaShana and Yom Kippur were observed in the Holy Temple. To learn more
about Machzor
HaMikdash LeRosh HaShana, click here.
To learn about Machzor
HaMikdash LeYom HaKippurim, click here.
Blessings from
Jerusalem,
Yitzchak Reuven
THE TEMPLE INSTITUTE
PO Box 31876
Jerusalem, Israel 97500
More info on
Elul