"As we find ourselves standing before the Day of Judgment, anyone with a bit of sense cannot help feeling awed and shiver with fear. When HaRav Chaim of Volozhin gave a talk in Elul, he began with the words of Dovid Hamelech, "My flesh bristled with fear and I was frightened of Your judgments," — and fainted away. Anyone who feels no fear is in a bad situation." These words were spoken by HaRav Yaakov Eidelstein in a special chizuk assembly in Yeshivas Mir in Jerusalem to an audience of thousands.
"Hashem is knocking. Sometimes this takes the form of bombs from the South; sometimes rockets in the North. Sometimes it is a goy who kills a Jew in the city streets or who forces his way into a home. It can take the shape of a traffic accident or a spine-tingling event of any other form. And even if this takes place in someone's personal life, in his family, it is the voice of Hashem speaking to him and to all of Klal Yisroel. `Kol dodi dofek' the voice of my Beloved is knocking." Hashem is begging, `Open up for Me.' And what is the initial opening a person must make?
"The mishnah in Brochos says that every blessing which was uttered in the Beis Hamikdash was answered with, `Boruch Atto Hashem Elokei Yisroel min ho'olom.' When the Tzedukim increased, they instituted the addition of `min ho'olom ve'ad ho'olom.' Why did they make this addition? Because they were distressed to see the growing influence of the Tzedukim who believed only in this world and disregarded the fact that this world is merely a transient one.
"Another thing which a person is urged to remind himself of, is the day of death. In this area, Hashem extends a kindness to the residents of Eretz Yisroel, for sadly, there is no country whose citizens live in such constant peril as those in Eretz Yisroel. The Chofetz Chaim, in his generation and location, had to work hard to remind himself of the day of death. Let us then utilize the difficult situation which the Jewish People find themselves in this Land to rouse ourselves in these matters in anticipation of Rosh Hashonoh, to contemplate at all times that the principle world is not this one, and to call to mind the day of death. Know from whence you came and where you are going, alongside our request of Hashem to `Remember us for life.'
"May Hashem grant us a life replete with love for Torah and with yiras Shomayim. We can trust that whoever cleaves unto Torah will be helped by Hashem."
