1. The Month of Elul: Customs and Purpose
This week’s parsha is Shoftim, but it’s also significant because we are now in the month of Elul—the final month of the Jewish year. Elul is a time for making up for anything we missed during the past year and preparing ourselves for the coming year. It’s a period of reflection and spiritual readiness, marked by several special customs.
One well-known custom is blowing the shofar—ram’s horn—every morning. Even those who don’t attend shul should try to hear the shofar at home if possible. While this isn’t an absolute obligation like on Rosh Hashanah, it remains an important tradition throughout Elul. The purpose is to awaken us spiritually and prepare us for the Days of Awe.
Other customs include checking one’s mezuzahs, reciting an extra chapter of Tehillim—Psalms—at both Shacharis and Mincha, and saying L’doved Hashem Ori, a psalm that speaks about seeking closeness to Hashem. The overall theme is self-improvement: becoming more sensitive, open, and caring as we approach the new year.
2. The Parsha’s Lesson on Protecting Dignity
The parsha discusses laws related to going out to war, including a unique process where certain individuals are sent home before battle. First, the Kohen HaMashuach—the specially anointed Kohen—addresses the people, followed by the shoytrim—the officers or police—who give an encouraging talk.
The Torah lists several categories of people who are exempt from battle: someone who built a house but hasn’t dedicated it, someone who planted an orchard but hasn’t yet enjoyed its fruit, and someone who has become engaged but not yet married. Then there is another category: “Who is the man who is afraid and faint of heart? Let him go and return home.” This refers to those who are simply unable to face war due to fear.
Rashi offers two explanations here. The first is literal: some people just can’t handle war emotionally or psychologically. The second explanation, brought from another rabbi, says that “afraid” refers to someone who fears punishment because he has sinned and worries that he may not merit Hashem’s protection in battle.
3. Divine Providence and Human Responsibility
This discussion leads into a broader point about Divine providence versus human effort. If everything comes from Hashem, why do we need to take precautions or work for our livelihood? The answer is that Hashem wants us to use natural means as vessels for His blessings. Just as one must buy a lottery ticket if they hope to win, so too must we act responsibly in all areas of life.
This principle applies especially in dangerous situations: when someone puts themselves at risk, it can arouse judgment from above (sotn mekatrik b’shas sakona—the accuser prosecutes at a time of danger). Thus, someone with a guilty conscience may be more fearful in such moments because they sense their vulnerability.
4. Torah Sensitivity: Avoiding Shame at All Costs
The Torah goes out of its way to protect people from shame. According to Rashi’s second explanation, those exempted from war for personal reasons (building a house, planting an orchard, getting engaged) are really only excused so that those leaving due to fear or sin won’t be singled out or embarrassed.
This teaches us how far the Torah will go not to shame anyone—even changing communal rules so no one can point fingers or judge others harshly. If Hashem cares so deeply about preserving another person’s dignity, how much more careful must we be not to embarrass others or look down on them? Only Hashem truly knows what lies in each person’s heart.
5. The Shofar: A Wake-Up Call According to Rambam
The Rebbe brings down from the Rambam why we blow the shofar, especially on Rosh Hashanah. While the Torah doesn’t provide explicit reasons for most mitzvos—so that people won’t rationalize their way out of them—the Rambam offers a powerful hint: The sound of the shofar serves as a wake-up call (Uru yisheinim mishinaschem—“Awaken you sleepers from your sleep!”).
This awakening isn’t just physical but spiritual as well. There are levels of “sleep”: some people are completely apathetic about their spiritual lives, while others are only partially disengaged. The first step toward growth is simply waking up—caring enough to notice where we stand spiritually.
6. Self-Reflection and Personal Growth in Elul
The Rambam continues that after waking up comes self-examination: searching our deeds and returning through teshuvah—repentance. Each person has unique challenges and weaknesses (“soft spots”), just like a rope breaks where it is weakest. We must identify these areas honestly if we hope to improve.
If you don’t care about your spiritual health at all, you remain asleep and unchanged. But once you care enough to wake up—even if you haven’t yet acted on it—you’re already on your way toward positive change.
7. Elul as an Opportunity for Awakening
The month of Elul, with its daily shofar blasts and special customs, provides this annual wake-up call. Even if you’re not ready yet for full transformation, feeling bothered by your shortcomings means you’re spiritually alive.
The previous Rebbe described how hearing the shofar early in the morning stirs something inside us: “Why am I sleeping so late? There’s so much I could accomplish!” Don’t let these precious days slip away without making some effort toward growth.
8. Fear as a Sign of Spiritual Awareness
An interesting point emerges regarding those “afraid” soldiers: If someone fears punishment because they recognize their sins and Hashem’s justice, they’re already spiritually awake! That awareness itself is valuable because it leads eventually toward improvement.
This message fits perfectly with Elul’s theme: even being unsettled by your own flaws is itself progress toward becoming better.
9. Blessings for Elul and Beyond
The ultimate goal during Elul is not just self-awareness but action—taking steps toward change one day at a time.
No matter where we stand spiritually at year’s end, Hashem blesses us with a Kasiva v’Chasima Tova—a good inscription and sealing for a sweet new year filled with revealed blessings according to what is truly best for us.