Elul: A Month of Refuge and Joy
Conventional versus Chassidic View of Elul
Elul is the name of the last month of the year. Elul is the month that precedes the Jewish New Year and is therefore regarded as the month in which we take stock of our behavior in the last eleven months of the year.
Conventional Jewish wisdom has always viewed Elul as a month of introspection, crying over past misdeeds, Teshuvah, (repentance or return), getting into the spirit of somberness of the High Holiday Season.
From the Chassidic perspective, Elul is a most exhilarating time.
First of all, Elul is the time of the year when G-d’s Thirteen Attributes of Mercy are most pronounced.
Secondly, Elul has been compared to a City of Refuge, discussed in this week’s Torah portion. When a person killed someone due to negligence, the Torah required that the killer escape to one of 48 cities in Israel. The purpose of this escape was not only to serve as punishment, but, more importantly, to serve as a means of escape from the wrath of the relatives of the victim. In addition, the positive atmosphere of these communities enabled the killer to learn to be more sensitive to the needs of others. After all, it was his insensitivity that caused his negligence.
What was true in the realm of space – that the Cities of Refuge – provided for refuge and positive conditioning, is true in time about the month of Elul, During this month, every one of us, has the capacity to “escape “ from the threatening forces of evil that pursue us all year round.
During Elul we are able to change, because there is something special about this month which conditions us to be more spiritually alert and sensitive.
The King is In the Field!
R. Shneur Zalman of Liadi, provided us with a parable to help us understand the significance of Elul. Elul, he explained, is when the King is in the field. When a king returns to his palace he travels through the fields. At that time, everyone can approach him and ask for their heart’s desire. The king, uncharacteristically greets everyone graciously and with a smiling countenance; granting the requests of all.
This describes the atmosphere of Elul. On the one hand, there are no Holidays during this month; but the King is still accessible to all of us, more so than in any other time of the year. The King during Elul, furthermore, greets us graciously and with a cheerful countenance.
When we realize the great opportunities that Elul affords us, we will be moved to serve G-d with greater care and joy.
We are now standing on the threshold – the Elul — of the Messianic Age. The preparations for this era must be like the preparations of Elul permeated with joy.
From the book Light from the Future: Parshas Shoftim by Rabbi Heschel Greenberg, published by the Jewish Discovery Center.
