The Rambam (Hilchos Teshuvoh 3:4), when explaining
about the mitzvah of Shofar writes, "Even though the sounding
of the shofar on Rosh Hashonoh is a decree of the Torah,
there is remez in it, that it means to say [that is,
that the blast of the shofar is intended to] arouse sleepers
from their slumber and to awaken those who are in a stupor
from their unconsciousness. They should examine their deeds,
repent and remember their Creator . . . "
The Rambam goes on to explain that because of our daily
routine during the course of the year we lose track of the
true purpose of life. Eventually we waste away our precious
lives uselessly, on endeavors which have no true worth or
purpose.
The sound of the shofar should rouse us to reconsider what we
are doing with our lives.
We are given a month of preparation for Yom Hadin. The
month of Elul must be used to redirect our desires and
aspirations fully and completely to serving our Creator. The
month of Elul is given to us to think about why and what we
are doing with our lives. Why do we eat, why do we sleep . .
. if we do business, why do we do business. If we walk in
the street -- why? If we read a paper -- why? We are alive.
Why?
The word "Elul," as it is spelled in Hebrew: "alef-lamed-
vov-lamed," is an acronym with several connotations. The
Mishnah Berurah (Preface to Simon 581) explains that
one of the things it stands for is: "Ani leDodi, veDodi
li -- I am for my Beloved and my Beloved is for me." This
posuk from Shir HaShirim (6:3) teaches us the essence
of our avodoh for Rosh Hashonoh. It is the basis for a
successful relationship with Hashem Yisborach.
"Ani leDodi" means that all I am, all of me is united,
and must have one aspiration: To please Hashem. I, my whole
being, my 248 organs and 365 sinews -- everything -- is for
my Beloved. I am fully devoted to Hashem. My whole essence is
totally focused on pleasing my Creator. Not just individual
parts of me; my heart or my brain, my hands or my feet, but
every part of my body -- everything that makes me what I am --
is given over to serving Hashem Yisborach.
I cannot serve Hashem with just my heart, and I cannot serve
Hashem with just my brain. My heart and my brain together,
all of me, along with everything else I am, my thoughts and
desires -- must all be for Hashem.
Rosh Hashonoh is a time of reckoning, a Yom Hadin. It
is a special yearly opportunity for us to realize the
importance and seriousness of our relationship with
HaKodosh Boruch Hu. We must reassess our lives, our
hopes and motivations.
We must carefully consider what Hashem expects of us, knowing
clearly that if we totally give ourselves over to Hashem,
this will lead us to true joy and happiness in life.
Everything we do must reflect our total commitment to Hashem.
If we are halfhearted or indifferent, how are we turning to
Hashem? How can we expect that He will turn to us?
Ani leDodi veDodi li is the essence of the reciprocal
relationship that Hashem Yisborach expects us to have
with Him. If there is something missing in this relationship,
if we do not use our hearts and our minds -- everything we
are -- totally for Hashem, if we hold something back for
ourselves, can we honestly expect Hashem to give us more than
we give Him?
VeDodi li means that Hashem will give us what we give
to Hashem. If we give everything we have in life to Hashem,
needing and wanting nothing for ourselves, if this is our
attitude then Hashem will respond in kind.
Shulchan Oruch Orach Chaim, Simon 231 is entitled,
"All the Intentions of a Person Should be Lesheim
Shomayim." There, we are instructed to use all the
benefits and pleasures of this world for serving Hashem.
Everything we do must have a purpose and a goal, directed at
serving and pleasing Hashem. We cannot be selfish and have
our own interests in mind.
Whatever we do should be done to serve Hashem. We should
enter Rosh Hashonoh with a clear understanding and a firm new
resolve that all we do from now on will be lesheim
Shomayim. We must make up our minds that our learning is
for Hashem, our prayers are for Hashem and our chesed
is for Hashem. If we do so, Hashem Yisborach will help
us to succeed.
If we add some more time to our learning, some more time to
our prayer and some more time to our chesed, then
"veDodi li," Hashem will be for us, especially on the
awesome Yom Hadin that we all face.
The gemora in Rosh Hashonoh (16a) teaches us that
HaKodosh Boruch Hu requires us to mention three things
in our tefillos of Musaf on Rosh Hashonoh:
Malchiyos, Zichronos, Shofaros. Hashem Himself
explains that we must say Malchiyos in order to accept
Him as our King. He is our Creator, our Ruler and our
Provider. We are His creations, His subjects and His
beneficiaries.
Hashem Yisborach is not an impersonal and distant
ruler. Hashem cares about each and every one of us in more
and better ways than the most benevolent king can ever care
and provide for his citizens. In the Siddur HaGra, the
commentary Avnei Eliyahu (on tefillos Sholosh
Regolim) explains that the name Elokeinu connotes
and indicates how Hashem relates to us with Hashgochoh
Protis. It was for this reason that Hashem took us out of
Mitzrayim -- in order for him to be our "Elokeichem;"
to lead us and to supply us with all our needs. Clearly,
Hashem is concerned for our welfare and wishes to bestow good
upon us all.
We must have the desire, and then Hashem will help us. We
must start with concern for who we are and why we do the
things we do.
If so, we can be'ezras Hashem Yisborach be zoche
to willfully and fully acknowledge Hashem's Reign and
Majesty be'ahavoh veyir'oh beleiv sholeim.
May we all be zoche to a kesivoh vechasimoh
tovoh and may this coming new year be blessed as a year
of geulah, yeshua and hatzlochoh beruchniyus
vegashmiyus.
