"Sometimes, when we think about our duty in Elul and how to prepare for Rosh Hashonoh..." These are the opening words of HaRav Chaim, who continues, "we become confused. I suggested to the avreichim that they lend more of a hand in the home because of the upcoming Day of Judgment. One young man said in Elul, he has taken upon himself to refrain from going out to the tumult of the street, which he considers as a good practice of not being 'subject to a test.' I protested: Chas vesholom! Where it is necessary, one should not argue thus; it is an pointless excuse.
The truth is that one should have a general view regarding our duties towards Hashem; one must asses a person's obligation in this world and what the Torah expects from us, to begin with, and what the month of Elul demands, in particular. Some people think that the Torah and its commandments are a form of 'awakening,' that the 613 commandments are means of arousal. Some believe that they are nostrums and schemes for deliverance and so on.
In truth, the very study of Torah is a spiritual stimulation. But we know, from all past generations, that this not the whole thing. While it is true that awakening is a central role in man, as in 'Why are you slumbering? Rise up and call out to your G-d," it is a reality which encompassing all of one's life. One can pray and perform mitzvos in a somnolent and sluggish manner. But no! One is obligated to study and to pray with full vitality.
But the order is really opposite! One needs to be aroused to do Torah and mitzvos. Our avodoh is not service to ourselves but service to Hashem. A person is a tzelem Elokim in order to serve Hashem. We are falsely modest and do not value ourselves properly. We feel that whether we learn a little more or less makes no difference. We do not properly value learning and tefilloh. We have to understand the implications of tzelem Elokim and our place in Creation, to know the true value of our task. We have to consider that we are setting up His chair of glory!
Is this special to Elul or all year round?
HaRav Kluft: It applies the year round but especially in Elul. It says in the droshos of Ibn Shoeib (a talmid of the Rashba): "Thus a person must return to his Creator and particularly in these days that are special in the eyes of Hashem Yisborach. We find in the Medrash that these 40 days are special in the eyes of Hashem and it was in this period that Moshe Rabbenu found favor in Hashem's eyes and brought down the second Luchos."
And he continues in the name of the Medrash: "Ani Ledodi Vedodi Li, the first letters spell Elul. The last letters are four yudim hinting to 40 days, that in these days Hashem reconciles with Yisroel and becomes their dod."
But the yetzer whispers to us: Nah, this has nothing to do with us. Maybe big tzaddikim have Elul, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur — but what does it have to do with me?
But when the Torah says, "Hashem chose you to be His nation," that certainly should speak to each and every one of us.
