B"H

Tuesday, Elul 5, 5780 / August 25, 2020

The Hebrew names of the months have their roots in the Babylonian language. These names were adopted and brought back with them when they returned to Israel from their Babylonian exile. Yet, our sages found the four letters which make up the word, Elul, hinted in the Torah and scriptures.

As mentioned before, Elul is an acronym for the four words in Shir HaShirim (Song of Songs), "Ani L'dodi V'dodi Li" - "I am to my friend and my friend is to me." 

This refers to our special relationship and connection with G-d during this month of Elul. This is accomplished through Repentance (Teshuvah), prayer (Tefila) and Charity (Tzedakah), as we say in the High holiday prayers. Our sages tell us that these three special mitzvot can nullify an evil decree and secure a new year of blessings.

There are mitzvot we must perform daily and there are mitzvot that are applicable only under certain conditions and in special times. Yet, even the mitzvot that apply all year long may take on greater significance and meaning during certain times of the year.

For example, the mitzvah of remembering the Exodus applies each day, as the Torah states, "Remember the day of the Exodus all the days of your life."  Yet, on Passover,  it has greater significance and greater meaning.

The mitzvah of repentance, prayer and charity, apply each day of the year. Yet, they have special significance during the forty days from the beginning of Elul until Yom Kippur. These 40 days correspond to the 40 days that Moshe was on Mount Sinai, where he prayed and achieved G-d's forgiveness for the sin of the Golden Calf and received the Second set of Tablets. 

Rabbi Avraham of Slonim once gave a sermon about the significance of the month of Elul and the importance of Teshuvah-repentance. 

Someone said, "Rabbi, what good is repenting, which I try to do, yet, I don't feel any spiritual uplifting.  In fact, from time to time I fall back into my bad habits.  What purpose is there in my repenting?"

Rabbi Avraham replied, "When a person realizes that they are sinking in deep mud and must get out before sinking completely, they have to take big steps and try to get to safe ground. Although, each time he puts his foot back down, he again steps into the mud, yet, if he stops he will sink completely.  But, if he continues, even if he is still in the mud, every effort will bring him closer to getting out."

"The same is with Teshuvah. When you try to emerge from the spiritual mud, you may not see any improvement at first.  But as long as you keep on making an effort to emerge, you will eventually succeed. Giving up is not an option."

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY, SUCCESSFUL DAY

& A SHANA TOVA – A HAPPY, HEALTHY NEW YEAR