Words From Rabbi White

Dear Chevra Shaas/Spanish

I MAY HAVE SAID THIS BEFORE, BUT IT’S WORTH REPEATING……

After Shabbat, the Ashkenazim begin the saying of selichot, and just 9 days remain in the month of Elul. What is the inner meaning of the word “elul?”

From a scholarly point of view, as the great 13^th century Sephardi scholar Ramban already pointed out (in his commentary to Shemot, chapter 12, based on the Talmud and midrash) the names of the months were foreign names which the Jews picked up when they were in the Babylonian exile. We use these names to remind us how HaShem redeemed us, and brought us back to Erets Yisrael. (Actually, Ramban calls them Persian, but I think he meant Akkadian.) Nevertheless, although perhaps not scientific, Jewish tradition has found symbolism in the name Elul, which can aid us in our preparations for Rosh HaShanah:

1) The Mishnah Berurah (chapter 581) points out that the 4 letters of the Hebrew name Elul stand for the first letters of the phrase in Shir HaShirim, “ani Ledodi Vedodi Li,” meaning ”I am my Beloved’s and my Beloved is to me.” Understanding that the “Beloved” refers to HaShem, the idea is that if at first I make the effort to do what is correct in the eyes of HaShem, He will then answer me. A two-step process: I initiate, and HaShem will respond.

2) The Mishnah Berurah also points out that all of those 4 words end in the Hebrew letter “yod.” The numerical value (gematria) of that letter is 10. Now, 10x4=40. That reminds us that we have 40 days, from the first day of Elul until Yom Kippur, to get ourselves in order.

3) But it’s not enough to prepare for RH and YK by davening. So, another verse often cited is a well-known verse from Esther: “Ish Lere`eihu Umatanot La’evyonim” Again, the first letters in Hebrew spell out Elul. But the idea here is that we have to help our friends, and also help the poor people. The idea being: we do mitsvot to help other people, and combine that with prayers to HaShem. The month of Elul is the time to increase our acts of kindness and tsedaka.

4) One of my favourites, which I saw in the important halachik work “Pisqei Teshuvot,” is based on the verse in Sefer Shemot “‘Ina Leyado Ve-samti Lekha” At first glance, this verse seems to be coming out of left field. It refers to cities of refuge, to which an accidental murderer can flee. What does this have to do with Elul? Yet, to me this as always been a very important idea. Often, we are angry at certain people for what they have said to us. “I will never speak to him again, for what he said to me!” And yet, so often no bad intention had been intended. Elul is a time to recognize that most of our friends are good people, and can be forgiven for a slip of the tongue (or of the pen!)

5) It has been suggested that the name “‘elul”, spelled with an ’aleph and 2 lameds, is similar to the word “‘ayil,” which means a ram, as in this month we have begun sounding the ram’s horn, the shofar, in preparation for Rosh Hashanah.

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We read this week the 6th of the 7 haftarot of consolation, from Isaiah, beginning with the words “qumi ‘ori.” The prophet tells us (verse 18) “no longer will there be heard hamas in your land.”

May this prophecy be realized speedily!

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Shabbat shalom; a happy and healthy New Year, Rabbi Menahem White, Chevra Shaas