The current campaign has shown us all the importance of shelters and protected spaces. Many lives were saved because citizens obeyed instructions and entered protected places when an alarm was sounded, thereby preventing themselves from harm.
Even in spiritual life, there is a need for a 'refuge', a spiritual place to which one can escape from the ravages of time; a place where the soul can feel protected and safe. This is actually the month of Elul.
This month is like a 'refuge', to which one can escape in order to be saved from the burdens and worries of the world.
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All year long we are exposed to the hustle and bustle of this world, and from time to time we fail, stumble, and taint our souls. In the month of Elul, God reaches out to us and helps us to conduct a true soul search and cleanse ourselves.
The king in the field
The essence of this month is beautifully illustrated by the parable of Rabbi Shneur-Zalman of Ladi (founder of Chabad Hasidism), in his book 'Likkutei Torah', about a king who goes out into the field and allows every person to approach him and express all their wishes to him.
In normal times, it is difficult for an ordinary person to reach the king. He must have special qualities for the king to agree to meet with him, and sometimes for him to listen to his requests and fulfill them.
But sometimes the king goes out to the people, and then he is not surrounded by a wall of secretaries, clerks, and chamberlains. Nothing stands between him and the common citizen. Anyone who wishes can approach him and present his requests.
And Rabbi Shneur-Zalman adds that the king receives all who come with a cheerful countenance and shows a friendly face to everyone. The king hears the people's words, and even fulfills their requests with joy and cheerfulness.
There is only one thing the people need to do – go out to the king. Take advantage of the rare and precious time when the king is very close to each and every one of them, and approach him.
This is a parable about the relationship between us and the Creator of the world. Throughout the year, we are required to fulfill certain requirements in order to appear before God.
Why doesn't every person deserve to have their prayer answered? Because they are not pure and innocent enough to ensure that their prayer will have its effect. "Who may ascend the hill of the Lord?" asks King David in the Psalms, and he answers: "He who has clean hands and a pure heart.".
But in the month of Elul, the 'King' goes out into the 'field'. The limitations that exist throughout the year fall away and disappear. Every ordinary person, like you and me, can be accepted by God, draw close to Him with immense closeness, and ask for all the desires of their heart. God opens all the gates before us and shines upon us with His great light.
A time of repentance and mercy
In the heart of every Jew, whoever he may be and whatever his actions may be, a certain awakening is felt during the days of Elul. He is not always aware of the meaning of this awakening; he does not always know how to direct it in the right directions; but he feels the need to change, to improve. He feels a longing for something spiritual.
The month of Elul is a time of repentance and mercy. These are days of will that give us wonderful strength to achieve things that seemed difficult and impossible in the past.
Now God is with us, very, very close to us, and He will help us mend our ways, improve and ascend, and He will also redeem us from all our troubles and give us all a happy and sweet New Year.
