The Heel Revisited

Elul, the “heel” of the year, is an extraordinary ordinary month. It reflects the extraordinary ordinary (“heel”) Jews of the last (“heel”) generation before the Redemption!

Head and Heels

As we approach the month of Elul, the last month of the year, we should reflect on the significance of the end of the year and contrast it with the year’s beginning.

The beginning of the year we call Rosh Hashanah, the Head of the Year. The reason for the use of the term “head” rather than just beginning, is that just as the human body is given life and directed by its head, similarly, the year has its own head that is the source of life for the rest of the year.

Following this metaphor, the month of Elul that occurs at the end of the year is its heel.

On the surface it would appear as if this month would be the least significant of months, just as the heel is the least prominent part of the body, especially in comparison with the head.

In truth, as discussed in last week’s essay, the characterization of something as a heel carries within it a positive connotation as well.

The “Heel” Generation

First, as discussed in last week’s essay, the last generations in this pre-Messianic era, have been likened to the heel, as compared to the generation of the Patriarchs and Moses, which were compared to the head.

This designation as a heel was not intended as a put-down, but rather as an indication that as great as our forebears were and as much as they may have accomplished, our generation is the one that will bring the journey of history to its destination. It is the heel that brings perfection to the entire human structure and to the anatomy of history as well.

Heel of the Year

Applying this notion to the final month of Elul:

As important as the head of the year may be, it is only during the month of Elul—the “heel” of the year—that the year can be made complete. For Elul is the month in which we reflect on all that we’ve done or failed to do during the past year and are given the opportunity to approach G-d and have the past corrected and perfected. True, there are no Holy Days in Elul, but every “ordinary” day in the month can save, enhance and elevate all the weekdays and Holy Days of the past eleven months.

However, this is only one perspective regarding the role of the “heel” in terms of history and in terms of the months of the year. In truth, the metaphor of a heel was intended to convey a far more positive commentary on our generation and on the month of Elul.

Our previous analysis of the designation of our generation—and the month of Elul—as a heel was based on the view of history—and the calendar year—as an organic unit. The progenitors and early leaders of the Jewish nation have been compared to the head, while the later generations were likened to the feet and heels of the historical “anatomy.”

From this perspective the emphasis was placed on the role of “heel” generation as the one that was charged with the responsibility of completing the mission of making the world a good and holy world. In this context, however, our mission, notwithstanding its unique capacity to complete the task, appears trivial compared to the earlier “head” and “heart” generations. This is true, particularly, when we reflect on the huge spiritual gulf that exists between the spiritual giants of the past and ourselves.

This analysis, while it is true. Links us to our past and helps to keep us humble, does not provide us with the whole picture of who we are in the continuum of history.

There is another perspective that views us, the “heel” generation, in a, paradoxically, different light.

Panoramic View of History

There is an old tradition, based on the Talmud, that Moses was given a preview of the future by G-d. When the view of the last few generations—the “heel” generations— appeared, Moses was incredulous and humbled.

What was it about this time period that so moved Moses?

When Moses was shown the horrific suffering that the Jewish people will endure in the future, prior to the Messianic Age, and that despite the unprecedented suffering and concealment of G-d’s presence, they would remain loyal and faithful to G-d and Judaism, he was overwhelmed.

To live in a period of miracles, enjoy a warm relationship with G-d, and then be loyal is no trick. To maintain this loyalty amidst unparalleled suffering and overwhelming forces of assimilation and secularism is indeed a testimony to the incredible G-dly spirit that permeates the “heel” generation.

On the one hand, we have been likened to a dwarf standing on the shoulders of a giant. We cannot compare ourselves to the spiritual stature of our ancestors. From the perspective of knowing, feeling and communicating with G-d, our predecessors were certainly head and shoulders above us. We must always be mindful of their teachings and example and realize that when we stand on their shoulders, we encompass them and we also acquire the capacity to go beyond them.

However, from the perspective of responding to G-d’s voice amidst the confusion, chaos and darkness, our generation wins with flying colors. We are the ultimate generation, the one that deserves Moshiach more than any preceding one.

Elul the Least and Most Significant

The same can be said about the month of Elul. On the one hand, it is the least significant of months that stands on the shoulders of the preceding nine months. Thus Elul can rectify that which was neglected in the past eleven months and enhance that which was done throughout the year.

But, Elul possesses an independent preeminent character as well. It is the month about which it has been said that the “king is in the field.” This means that it is the month in which G-d meets us on our turf and is accessible to all. Far from being the inferior month that must rely on the strengths of other months for its own health, it is the month that enables us to enjoy a relationship with G-d unlike any other time of the year.

May we all utilize the power of the forthcoming month of Elul to elicit from G-d a promise to grant us a good and sweet year, and a year of Redemption.

From the book Light from the Future: Parshas Rei by Rabbi Heschel Greenberg, published by the Jewish Discovery Center.