Maghen Abraham - Thoughts From Mayer Sasson

"See I place before you… blessing and curse." (11,26)

Elul the month of repentance

The idea written by ancient Rabbis that the month of Elul is alluded to in the verse of Shir Hashirim "אני לדודי ודודי לי" (I am my Beloved's and my Beloved is mine) is well known. This is the acronym of the month of Elul אלול which is known to be the month of repentance, and therefore G-d becomes connected with the Children of Israel – I – the Nation of Israel repent and return to my Beloved and my Beloved – G-d – deals in kindness with me.

This matter is brought down in the holy book Bnei Yissachar: "The interpreters said "אני לדודי ודודי לי" – the acronym of Elul – for then G-d receives our repentance and the Jewish souls long for Him. The last letters of the words "אני לדודי ודודי לי" are the letter yud four times which add up to 40 (4x10), alluding to the 40 days when Moshe was on Mount Sinai receiving the last Tablets, from Rosh Chodesh Elul until Yom Kippur – and these are days of good will."

The Kisei Rachamim says that every person in Israel has the obligation to repent from his bad ways whether through fasting, charity, prayers, crying or good deeds and they are all alluded to in the Scriptures.

Regarding repenting by fasting, it says in the Torah regarding Eliezer the slave of Avraham Avinu, "ויושם לפניו לאכול ויאמר לא אכל" ("and food was put before him and he said I shall not eat") (in the month of Elul) which has the acronym of אלול . Charity is alluded to in the words "איש לרעהו ומתנות לאביונים" ("man to his friend and gifts to the poor") and charity in the Days around the High Holy Days is especially important.

Crying is alluded to in the words "ויבא אברהם לספד לשרה ולבכתה" ("and Avraham came to eulogize Sara and to cry about her") and bringing peace between people is alluded to in the words "וישאלו איש לרעהו ומתנות לאביונים" ("and they lent to one another and gave presents to the poor"). "ויבאו האהלה" ("and they came into her tent") refers to synagogues and houses of learning and prayers are alluded to in the words "ויאמרו לאמר אשירה לה'" ("and they said I will sing to G-d") (and the word song שירה  adds up in numerology to the word תפילה –prayer).

This is what is written in the Perasha: "ראה אנכי נתן לפניכם... ברכה וקללה." - "See I place before you… blessing and curse." The acronym of ראה is "ראה אלול הגיע", - See Elul has come and the acronym of "אנכי"  is "יגדל נא כח ה'" – When we do His will to repent (especially during the month of Elul – then – "G-d's Might is increased" and His Name becomes greater in all the worlds.

SHABBAT SHALOM!!!

Mayer Sasson