We have just entered the Hebrew month of 'Elul.' Elul is the month that precedes Tishrei, the month that includes the high holidays of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot. The Jewish Mystics liken Rosh Hashanah to a time when the simple people of the villages come to crown the great king in his palace. But in the month of Elul, it's the King himself who comes to the field to visit His people. In a spiritual sense, G-d Reveals Himself to our souls and Draws our hearts a bit closer to Him during this month. As Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi wrote in the 1700's: A King decides to leave his palace, leave his large city, and enter the fields where the simple farmers work. There, all are able to come and meet the King, who embraces them with a shining and happy countenance.
This month, every person is given a special opportunity & ability to connect to G-d; to get more in touch, if we want, with our Judaism and Spiritual sides in a much easier fashion than usual. This experience of re-connecting with G-d is known as Teshuva. Improperly translated into English as repentance, it really means to return. As hard as it is to imagine in the materialistic reality we live in today, the natural state of our souls, of us, is one of being close to G-d, in touch with our spiritual selves. So when we leave that, and deny our spiritual sides, we have left our true state. Tapping into a higher reality (through prayer, learning, contemplation, charity & good deeds), therefore, is merely a return to one's true state of being.
Enjoy this month of return!
Shabbat Shalom!
-Daniel
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