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The Zohar
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Song for Elul |
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From the teachings of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai; translation & commentary by Simcha-Shmuel Treister
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Psalm 27 is read at the end of the morning service throughout the month of Elul. Verse 6 reads: "And now shall my head be lifted up above all my enemies around me; therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tent, I will sing and play music to the Lord".
Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery, but afterwards they all bowed and prostrated themselves before him. King David was hated by his brothers who pushed him away from their company and G-d raised him up above all the peoples of the world. His father in law, King Saul, wanted to kill him, and he ran away and G-d raised him up over all his kingdom
When G-d is pleased with a person who has repented of his misdeeds, He raises him up above all people in the world and makes him the head of all, and all those who hate him will submit to his authority.
Rabbi Nachman of Breslev teaches that proper repentance necessitates the vibrant vigor of both "running and returning". "Running", a forward motion, is associated with the name "Kasa"; "Returning" is associated with the name Sag. Even after a spiritual fall, one must be ready to spring back onto the track of holy service to G-d.
The above two names are hinted at in the name of the month, Elul; the entire month one should meditate upon these two divine names (Sag, 63 and Kasa, 161) which add up to the numerical value of the Hebrew word for "pathway" ["derech" = 224], the secret of the verse "…Who provides a pathway upon the sea". The Hebrew word for "upon the sea" ["b'yam" = 52] is related to the name Ban [Havayah spelled out to equal 52]. The mystical significance of this verse is that the two names, Sag and Kasa, which equal the Hebrew word for "pathway" shine into the name Ban, and it is this pathway which opens for the entire month of Elul.
On the Saturday night preceding Rosh Hashanah , at midnight, Ashkenazic Jewry begins to recite the Selichot prayers. There are many different terms used to express forgiveness in the Torah and Rabbinic liturgy. "Selicha" means complete forgiveness so that there remains absolutely no trace of the sin. This can be granted only by G-d.
When a kingdom's subjects view their king, they are overcome with awe of the intense splendor. Similarly, between Rosh Hashanah h and Yom Kippur G-dliness is exposed to every Jew, a revelation termed by Solomon as "my Beloved is mine". To experience the awe of this divine consciousness, however, a precondition of our divine service is first necessary. That is alluded to by the verse's first phrase, "I am my Beloved's."
The beginning of the month of Elul initiates the first days of our annual month of preparation before the High Holy days, when the Jewish people are judged on their behavior of the past year. The Shelah comments on the verse "When the lion roars, who is not afraid?", explaining that the Hebrew word for "lion", "aryeh" (spelled alef, reish, yud, hei), is an acronym for the 4 words, Elul, Rosh Hashanah , Yom Kippur and Hoshana Rabbah (the last day of Sukkot). When the "lion" of the High Holy Days arrives, people feel the urge to change their behavior for the better, in preparation of the Day of Judgment.
The Rebbe stood in front of the blazing home and leaned on his cane. He remained utterly still for a few moments. Suddenly, the fire died down.
Holiness requires preparation.
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