Maghen Abraham - Thoughts From Mayer Sasson

ואני אתנהלה לאטי לרגל

"…and I will lead myself on slowly in accordance with the pace of the work which is before me…"

ELUL

Our Sages found an allusion to the month of Elul in the verse that Yakov Avinu said to Eisav before they separated from one another, "... ואני אתנהלה לאטי לרגל..."

The initials of those words spell out the word א ל ו ל .

Our Sages say that this alludes to the idea that we cannot correct all flaws and build suddenly all that had been destroyed during the entire year. We need the month of Elul to return to G-d and correct our misdeeds.

This serves as preparation for the Days of Judgment, Rosh Hashana, the Ten Days of Repentance and Yom Kippur, when, as we know, all Mankind comes before G-d like sheep (in a row, one after the other).

Therefore "…and I will lead myself on slowly in accordance with the pace of the work which is before me" – "the work" means the Service of G-d on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. "I will lead myself on slowly in accordance with the pace of the work" (in the month of Elul) so that I can correct all flaws.

SHABBAT SHALOM!!