Question: Since I can do teshuvah all year long, what is so special about chodesh Elul?
Answer
The seforim famously teach us that in the month of Elul “hamelech basodeh, the King is in the field,” meaning that Hashem comes amongst us, and is close to us, so it is easier to do teshuvah. These teachings are famous, but we have to understand: why is it like this, what is special about Elul that Hashem comes to be with us?
The answer is split into two aspects of this month: Elul is the end of the last year and the beginning of next year. {Ed. note: in this week’s answer we will focus on the aspect that Elul is at the end of the year, and next week we will look at it from the perspective that Elul leads us to the beginning of the next year.}
The end of anything has a special koach to finish up any work that was missed out, like sometimes one can see an elderly man that starts taking ruchniyus more seriously etc. This is because he is nearing an end. The reason for this is that each person has the avodos and niztosos that he has to gather during the year, so at the end of the year, everything that was left accumulates and needs to get done. This is the reason that usually in Elul you may find yourself in katnus (a feeling of spiritual disconnect). Since the avodos done in katnus are ‘worth’ more, because the harder the effort, the higher the reward, one becomes closer to Hashem when he serves him even if he is in katnus, and it is very difficult for him. In this way he fills in the gaps, and makes up for the opportunities he missed during the year, even quicker!
Hashem in His great kindness and rachamim made that in this time one can easily make up for all the avodos he missed out on during the year, and he puts into our hearts a ratzon and yearning to make up for everything. It is usually a ratzon that is humble, not full of oneself, and more like a subtle stir or song that says: “Hashem I know I messed up, and I also know I could’ve done more. Please help me make up for all this with your great rachamim!”
Now don’t get it wrong and think that if you have to make up for the whole year you have to go into a stressful frenzy and pressure yourself to learn eighteen hours a day etc.. No, that is definitely not the way to go! The main thing is just to come back to Hashem, and clarify that He and only He does everything.
To show sincerity you should take on a small commitment. The two main areas where you should try making a kaballah are in kedushah [sur meira, avoiding things that should be avoided] and Torah [asei tov]. In kedushah one may try to be a little more careful in shemiras einayim and tzniyus, and in Torah try to add a little more learning to his routine, and specifically sifrei pnimiyus.
This article was found in Nekuda Tova Issue 51.
