We are suffused with a great joy at the onset of the new Elul
zman and at the opportunity of entering the new and
splendid Beis Medrash, for which we have R' Kugler to
thank.
It will be our obligation to bring the Shechina into
this beis medrash through our prayers and Torah study.
We hope that our efforts will make the presence of the
Shechina here palpable. How can we go about
accomplishing this?
In Avoda Zora 19b it is written: "Why does it say,
`Fortunate is the man who fears Hashem' and makes no mention
of `the woman'? Said R' Amram in the name of Rav, `Fortunate
is the person who repents when he is a man.' Rashi explains
that this means while one is still vigorous and in his prime,
that is, he is quick to recognize his Creator, before he is
an old man. [It does not mean `man' as opposed to `woman' but
means `man' as opposed to `old man.']
This is a significant revelation into the meaning of
teshuva. We are accustomed to thinking that repentance
is what we do for our sins, whereas Rashi tells us that
teshuva is acknowledging and "getting to know one's
Creator."
If teshuva means to return, to repent, from what point
does one repent? From where? And where does one go to from
there?
When a person is immersed in sin, entangled in the net of the
yetzer hora, he has to abandon that place in order to
purify himself, and this is repentance: leaving behind the
sins and going to be purified. But Rashi introduces a
different concept, a principle in teshuva -- that the
very first step is to recognize one's Creator. And this is
best done when a person is in his prime and vitality, not
when his strength has already waned.
One would think that recognizing one's Creator may require
the advanced maturity and broad perspective that comes with
age and experience. But Rashi tells us that the earlier the
better, while one is still in one's prime. This is very
illuminating.
Today we are beginning the Elul session, whose very purpose
is to repent our sins. But as Rashi stated, it really means
getting to know the Creator. To return in order to become
closer. The proximity is the first step, followed by
repentance for one's sins, those acts that are incompatible
with a closeness to the Holy One. First things first. The
earlier the better, the younger the better, the stronger the
better.
Young men -- it is they who must get to know their Creator.
And if a youth is asked if he knows his Creator, he will
forthwith reply, `Yes.' From where does he know about Him?
From his father, from cheder? But this is not the
level we are talking about. One must introspect and
contemplate this subject, think in depth about all of
Creation, and see and realize that Hashem created everything
that exists, including the young man himself.
Hashem is our Father. Hashem is the source of everything we
see around us, whatever we see. We are aware that Hashem gave
us the Torah at Sinai and that all Jewry, souls past and
present, heard Hashem command, "I am Hashem Your G-d." When a
person acknowledges his Creator, is aware of Him, it must,
perforce, make an impression upon him when he begins to
pray.
When he says, "Boruch Ato Hashem," he must realize
Whom he is addressing. Is he speaking respectfully enough to
the King of kings? How can he address Him directly as `Ato
Hashem'? He is the Master of the Universe.
But Hashem is the One Who created me. He is my
Father, my King, and every blessing that I utter
is a direct address to Him. This very fact should make a
constant impression upon us, in our hearts, every single
time, with each prayer and utterance.
The Rambam discusses the laws of repentance and asks, "What
is perfect teshuva? When he experiences the same
circumstances which caused him to sin in the past, and is
tempted to sin again, but refrains from doing so. In that
case, his tshuva is complete, as Shlomo Hamelech
advises us: "Remember your Creator in the days of your
youth." The Rambam cites this saying of Shlolmo Hamelech to
indicate that repentance is bearing Him in our minds, being
aware of Him. For if one is aware of Hashem, he knows that He
does not want us to sin and that person will refrain from
sinning. The awareness makes a different impression upon him,
and must be constant.
The Rambam also writes, "And even if he transgressed
throughout his life, only to repent on the day of his death --
and dies after having done teshuva, all of his sins
are forgiven . . . We see from here that if he is acutely
aware of his Creator right before his death and duly
repents, he is forgiven" (emphasis added). We see from here
that the Rambam indicates that all teshuva entails
remembering Hashem.
It therefore follows that as we are entering the month of
Elul, the month of sanctity, we must also prepare for Rosh
Hashonoh and Yom Kippur -- by doing our utmost to recognize,
to get to know our Creator. A young man, says Rashi, is
capable of acknowledging his Creator and doing true
repentance.
We must give serious thought to this. Young men are together
nowadays all day; rarely does one find himself alone, alone
with a chance to contemplate. If a bochur seeks to
draw closer to Hashem, he must create an opportunity for
solitude, when he can meditate on drawing closer, thinking
about everything that Hashem does for him, and all the things
he must do in order to draw closer to Hashem.
This is the purpose of Elul, and the nature of the effort
which we must invest. This is the proper preparation for Rosh
Hashonoh, the day of accepting upon oneself the yoke of the
Kingdom of Heaven.
Such a momentous day requires great preparation, the first
step of which is prayer. This does not mean mouthing the
words in the siddur by rote but making a special
effort that each prayer draw us closer to Hashem. Indeed,
every single word -- Boruch . . . Ato . . . Hashem . . .
-- should achieve that purpose. One of the goals of our
yeshiva is to create that awareness, that closeness and the
realization that Hashem is the Creator, Sustainer, Living and
actively involved. This belief must accompany us all the
time. And as Rashi said, this applies to a young man who does
teshuvoh.
The Shulchan Oruch begins with the verse, "Shivisi
Hashem lenegdi somid." Hashem is ever before me. This is
the level of a mature person. But young people should at
least realize that when they stand in prayer, the Shechina
is before them. This is why the halocho states
that one is forbidden to pass before someone who is praying.
The Taz explains that someone in prayer is in the presence of
the Shechina and thus, the very ground upon which he
stands is holy soil. One may not trespass on it. The fact is
that each time a person stands for Shemoneh Esrei, he
stands before the Shechinah, and we must feel this
too.
This is how we must begin the month of Elul. It is a weighty
thing, to know that young men must make an effort to get to
know Hashem and thereby begin the process of repentance. It
is with this resolve, with this goodwill that we enter our
new beis medrash, consecrate and dedicate it and hope,
here, to feel the Presence of the Shechina.
Elul. This holy month, the month of tshuva. And this
must begin with an awareness of the Creator. Every
bochur must know this and work on this. And when a
young man acknowledges his Creator, "Fortunate is the
man."
May Hashem grant us success in this holy month of Elul that
we merit to approach tshuva so that we arrive at Rosh
Hashonoh and Yom Kippur with true repentance in anticipation
of the New Year, may it come upon us for the good. May all of
the students here succeed in this holy avoda of Elul
and may we all merit to grow in Torah and avodas
Hashem. Amen.
These remarks were delivered at the beginning of Elul
zman in Yeshivas Givat Shaul last year. The yeshiva
had also just moved into a new beis medrash.
