Few things so highlight the depth of our golus as the
way the rhythms of life of the non-Jewish world affect us.
For many of those who live in chutz la'aretz it is
hard these days to escape the dominant spirit of the
beginning of August, the dog-days of summer, the time the
whole world (or at least the Northern Hemisphere) thinks
about relaxing a little.
Yet in the yearly cycle that really counts, it is already the
beginning of Elul. Elul! The time in which all good men begin
to prepare for the upcoming yemei hadin. A time of
introspection and evaluation, and of increasing tension as
the days of yomim noraim come nearer. It is definitely
not a time to relax.
September seems altogether a better time for Elul. The
climate is cooler and, for those who are exposed to it, the
non-Jewish world also returns to work and study after the
long summer of vacationing. But we have no time to waste, for
the yemei hadin are fast approaching.
HaRav Dovid Povarsky, zt"l, once said in a
shmuess that the entire thrust of what we have to do
in Elul can be summed up in the words of the Tanna Ben Azzai
in Ovos (4:2): "Run to do even a simple mitzva."
Do not just walk to do a mitzva -- run to it. This teaches us
that our obligation is not just the actual act of performing
the mitzva itself -- but we must also exert ourselves and try
hard even in the stages that precede and lead up to the
actual performance of the mitzva. The preparation that leads
up to the mitzva is also important and even that has a right
way to be done.
This is our avoda in Elul which is the period that
precedes and leads up to the yomim noraim. We must not
think, mistakenly, that the only thing of importance is Rosh
Hashanah itself. In fact, even the time leading up to Rosh
Hashanah, the preparation for the yom hadin, all the
days of Elul, are important in themselves. In this period we
must conduct ourselves specially, and rededicate ourselves to
avodas Hashem so that we will be, in effect, running --
not walking -- to Rosh Hashanah. We must seize each day of
Elul as another rung in the ladder that leads up to Rosh
Hashanah.
Running implies actions performed with speed and enthusiasm,
quickly overcoming obstacles, trying to get there faster,
ignoring distractions, and consistently pursuing a goal
without being slowed by fatigue.
Running to Rosh Hashanah in Elul must be such that we ignore
all distractions and strengthen ourselves physically and
emotionally, with a consistent and unflagging devotion to
avodas Hashem so that we will be ready for the
upcoming Rosh Hashanah.
On your mark . . . get set . . . GO!
