1. The Month of Elul: Reflection and Preparation
Tomorrow night marks the beginning of the month of Elul—the final month of the Jewish year. Elul is a time for reflection on the year that has passed, offering us an opportunity to correct and make up for anything we may have missed or not done to perfection. This month serves as both an accounting for the past and a preparation for the coming year, which begins with Rosh Hashanah and continues with the holidays that follow. The blessings and inspiration for the entire upcoming year are drawn from the efforts and preparations we make during Elul.
Elul connects our past actions with our hopes for the future. It is a time to ask Hashem to judge us favorably and grant us, our families, and all of Israel a good and sweet year. The process involves taking stock of what has transpired, making amends where needed, and readying ourselves spiritually to accept Hashem as our King in the new year.
2. The Deeper Meaning of Elul: Acronyms and Origins
The name Elul itself carries many hints and allusions. The most well-known is that it forms an acronym for Ani l’dodi v’dodi li—“I am to my beloved and my beloved is to me.” In this phrase, “I” represents the Jewish people turning toward Hashem, while “my beloved” refers to Hashem reciprocating that closeness. This expresses both repentance (teshuvah) and love during this special month.
The name Elul, however, is not found in the Torah itself—the Torah refers to months by number rather than by name (e.g., Nisan as the first month). Yet, over time, names such as Elul became established. The letters Aleph-Lamed-Vav-Lamed themselves contain deeper meaning. The Tzemach Tzedek (the third Chabad Rebbe) points out that Aleph-Lamed spells lo—“no”, while Lamed-Vav spells lo—“to him.”
3. Two Levels of Connection: Lo with Aleph and Lo with Vav
This duality is reflected in a verse: “B’chol tzarosom lo tzar”—“In all their troubles, He is troubled.” Here, “lo” can be written with a vav (“to Him”) or with an aleph (“not”), leading to two possible readings: either Hashem shares in our pain or He does not.
The Hasidic teachings explain that both are true on different levels. On one level, Hashem is intimately involved with us—what happens below matters above. Our mitzvos bring joy Above, our misdeeds cause pain Above, just as a parent responds emotionally to their child’s behavior. But there is also a higher level where Hashem’s love is unconditional and inherent, unaffected by our actions—a love like that of a parent who loves their child regardless of behavior.
This duality also applies to forgiveness: when we do teshuvah, we reach into this deeper connection where Hashem’s acceptance transcends any accounting of deeds or misdeeds. Just as a parent forgives out of deep love, so too does Hashem forgive when we access this essential bond.
4. Elul’s Dual Role: Accounting and Renewal
The month of Elul, then, encompasses both aspects: it is a time for honest self-accounting regarding our actions (connecting on the level where what we do matters), but also a time to prepare ourselves for crowning Hashem as King at Rosh Hashanah, tapping into that higher connection where our relationship with Hashem transcends deeds.
This explains why Elul serves as both an opportunity for rectification (making up for shortcomings) and renewal (preparing ourselves spiritually for a new year). Both levels are necessary: we must strive to improve ourselves while also recognizing that our bond with Hashem runs deeper than any tally sheet could reflect.
5. Shoftim: The Importance of Having a Rav or Guide
This week’s parsha is Shoftim, which discusses leadership among the Jewish people. The Rebbe often emphasized based on Pirkei Avot that every person should have a Rav—a spiritual guide or teacher who can help navigate life’s complexities. Even those who feel competent should not rely solely on themselves but should seek guidance from someone they trust.
The Rebbe addressed common objections such as “I can’t find anyone worthy,” insisting there always exists someone suitable whom you can appoint as your Rav. Without such guidance, people may neglect important decisions or fail to reach their potential because they lack direction in day-to-day struggles.
6. Appointing a King: Mitzvah or Rejection?
The parsha commands us to appoint a king over ourselves upon entering Eretz Yisrael—a mitzvah counted among three key commandments upon settling the land. Yet when Bnei Yisrael later requested a king from Shmuel HaNavi (Samuel), he was upset, feeling rejected as their leader, and Hashem echoed this sentiment by saying they had rejected Him.
This seems contradictory: if appointing a king is a mitzvah, why was their request problematic? And if it was so wrong, why did Hashem ultimately grant them King Saul?
7. Two Purposes of Kingship: Order vs Spiritual Elevation
The Rebbe explains that kingship serves two purposes:
- The basic function is maintaining law and order so society does not descend into chaos—a practical need shared by all nations.
- The higher purpose is spiritual elevation: the king possesses unique qualities and closeness to Hashem that elevate his people beyond what they could achieve alone.
If people possess sufficient fear of Heaven (yirat shamayim) internally, they do not need external authority merely for order’s sake but still benefit from kingship’s higher spiritual influence.
Bnei Yisrael’s request was problematic because they asked “like all other nations,” seeking only the lower function rather than aspiring toward spiritual elevation through kingship. That was why Shmuel was upset—if they had internalized yirat shamayim fully, they would have sought kingship only for its higher purpose.
8. Contemporary Application: Finding True Guidance Today
The lesson today is clear: each person should appoint for themselves a Rav or spiritual mentor not just as formality but out of genuine desire for growth and guidance toward their highest potential (Asei lecha rav). This means subjugating oneself humbly before someone wiser who can help one achieve true spiritual success.
This approach ties together both themes discussed today: just as in Elul we combine honest self-assessment with reaching toward something higher than ourselves, so too in seeking guidance we must balance personal responsibility with openness to wisdom beyond our own understanding.
This preparation during Elul sets the stage for entering Rosh Hashanah ready for blessing and success in every area—a year in which all our heart’s desires will be fulfilled for good.