One Rosh Chodesh Elul, Rav Yitzchak Blazar, the renowned tzadik and student of Rav Yisroel Salantar zt”l, walked into the Beis Medrash. The room was quiet, holding the special feeling of a new beginning. It was Rosh Chodesh Elul — the doorway into the days of mercy and closeness to Hashem.
Without saying a word, Rav Yitzchak walked straight to the Aron HaKodesh. The entire Beis Medrash watched in silence as he reached out and opened it.He stood there for a few moments, and then, with tears pouring from his eyes,he cried out with deep emotion:
“Thank You Hashem, Master of the World, for giving us the month of Elul!” The words were simple, but the feeling behind them was overwhelming. Elul had just begun, and already he felt the greatness of the gift — a time when Hashem is so close, when every Jew can return, when every small step matters so much.
Sometimes the greatest tzadikim see things most clearly. What may look to us like just another month is, in truth, something far greater — a precious gift from Hashem, a time when He draws Himself close to every Jew and gives us the opportunity to return to Him, no matter where we are holding.
This article was found in Nekuda Tova Issue 94.
