Written by Rabbi Daniel Yaakov Travis
(based on a derasha from
HaGaon Rav Moshe Sternbuch shlita,
Ravad of Yerushalayim)
Going to War
"When you go out to war against your enemy, and Hashem delivers him into your hands…” (Devarim 21:10). One might expect the Torah, when talking about victory in battle, to address the entire army. So why does the pasuk use the singular form of “you,” apparently addressing each person individually?
Seforim explain that the enemy referred to here is the yetzer hara which attacks each person daily. The Torah reveals that we are incapable of fighting this enemy on our own. Only if Hashem delivers the enemy straight into our hands can we hope for success.
The Chofetz Chaim points out another aspect of this struggle. "When you go out to war" implies that a person can only win this fight if he is willing to engage in combat. Once he has taken up arms, Hashem will take charge and help him to win the war.
Strategy, tactics, and armaments are just a few of the factors that play a key role in military victory. So too, when battling the yetzer hara, without weapons and a battle plan, a person has little chance of prevailing.
What would happen if a person chooses not to fight, and rather lets nature take its course? Without taking the initiative to do battle, he has no chance of winning. His life will surely be destroyed by the tailor-made tactics of the yetzer hara. Furthermore, since every Jew is obligated to strive to overcome his yetzer hara to the best of his ability, and one who lays down his arms stands of losing part of his portion in the World to Come.
While melachim were created with no evil inclination, man has a yetzer hara which burns eternal within him. From the moment he is born until he breathes his last breath, he is engaged in a constant struggle. Only someone who understands the serious nature of this war will ever come out on top.
Releasing Captives
"And you see amongst the captives a beautiful woman" (Devarim 21,11). The Zohar explains that the captive referred to in the pasuk is our mitzvos. When we transgress, our mitzvos are taken away from us.
How can we free these prisoners of war? Mitzvos taken captive are not lost; they can be freed. Teshuvah allows us to get back the mitzvos we lost, and return them to our credit.
Some sifre mussar state that one way to overcome the yetzer hara and bring ourselves to teshuvah is to recognize the insignificance of our own existence compared to the Almighty Creator. "The difference between man and beast is nothing," and by grasping how small we are we can serve Him properly. The end of man is the worm. The Ba’alei Mussar say that if we can develop an awareness of this harsh truth while we are still alive, we can yearn for true greatness in the World to Come.
Others take an opposite approach and recommend that a person focus on the G-d-given potential for greatness that lies in each and every Jew – even you. Hashem has placed Man at the center of the universe, and the entire heavenly assembly must wait for Man’s cue before it can do anything. Developing awareness of this great responsibility should instill a feeling of awe within us, and propel us to reach higher level of Divine service.
These two approaches regarding the proper approach to serving Hashem, are expressed in Hilchos Shofar. Those who favor the approach of humility rule that the shofar should be curved, to show that we are bowed before G-d in humility. Others say that the shofar should be straight, symbolizing how a Jew should stand upright and proud in his Divine service.
Choose Your Weapon
Tefilah and Torah are the primary tools we have to fight the yetzer hara. However transgressions taint our actions and weaken the potency of even the most powerful weapons. Under such circumstances, Hashem no longer has interest in our actions.
Many of us are plagued by irrelevant thoughts that disturb our prayers. The Zohar explains the source of these interruptions. Klipos of tumah which are created when we transgress are summoned especially to disturb our prayers.
Rav Eliyah Lopian once pointed out how careful we must be to protect ourselves from this outside interference. Hashem hears what is passing through our mind as if it was actual speech. Imagine the disgrace when our tefilos arrive in Shamayim together with all of the irrelevant thoughts that accompanied our prayers!
"I created the yetzer hara and I created Torah as its antidote" (Kedushin 30b). Torah is a powerful weapon against the yetzer hara when learnt with the proper intentions. Torah studied like any other academic discipline does not have the power to overcome this masterful enemy.
"We should all know Your name and learn Torah with pure intentions". Torah requires that a person recognize who his Source is. At the same time we should try and study Torah with the intention of bringing ourselves closer to Hashem.
Rav David Karliner used to learn Torah with the words "Place Hashem before you at all times" written on his shtender. Rav Reuven Bengis once asked him, "Why do you need this?" Rav Karliner replied, "I don't want to forget for even one moment that I am studying the Torah of Hashem!"
Getting the Most Out of Elul
While most of the world does not recognize Elul as different from any other time of year, Klal Yisrael knows that this month is a period of tremendous Divine mercy and compassion. During this time Hashem yearns for us to return to Him. Those who make use of this time will be rewarded greatly, as expressed in the following parable told in Medrash Tehillim.
A king once made an elaborate banquet. To his great dismay, no one turned up to the affair, and. As he awaited his guests alone in his grand dining room, the monarch was filled with anger and was ready to issue a harsh decree against his subjects.
The king was just about to act, when a few beloved subjects turned up to his banquet. He was pacified, and decided to forego his decree. Said the king, "Because you came, you saved everyone from punishment."
So too, even though we have been invited by the King and He awaits our presence, many people still fail to “show up” for Elul. Those loyal subjects of the King who do take the time and effort to make Elul what it should be, give tremendous nachas ruach to Hashem. Every one of us should look within and sincerely try to use this precious time to come closer to our Creator.
(Rabbi Travis is Rosh Kollel of Kollel Toras Chaim in Yerushalayim and is the author of Shaylos U'Teshuvos Toras Chaim and "Praying With Joy – A Daily Tefilla Companion" a practical daily guide to improving one's prayers, available from Feldheim Publishers. For more information about his work contact dytravis@actcom.com.)
Showing posts with label Ellul. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ellul. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
High Stakes Getting the Most Out of Elul
Written by Rabbi Daniel Yaakov Travis
(based on a derasha from
HaGaon Rav Moshe Sternbuch shlita,
Ravad of Yerushalayim, Leil Shabbos Shoftim)
Out of Order
We all know that Rosh Hashanah is the day when the Almighty issues our judgment for the upcoming year, while Yom Kippur is our opportunity to atone for our transgressions.
Based on this, Rav Yisrael Salanter asked a simple yet startling question: Aren’t these holidays out of order? Surely it would better for us to have our spiritual state wiped clean before our future fate is determined.
Rav Yisrael answers his own question by pointing out that in fact Rosh Hashanah has to come first. Through the awesome spirit of strict judgment of that day, we are able to perceive that Hashem is truly the undisputed ruler of the entire universe. Only after we have achieved this level of recognition are we worthy of being purified on Yom Kippur.
Rosh Hashanah is not a day of teshuvah. Throughout the long hours of davening, we do not say a single viduy. Rather Rosh Hashanah is a Yom Tov of malchious, recognizing that everything that happens in our lives is in His hands alone.
Rav Sternbuch was once approached by a businessman for a beracha right before Rosh Hashanah. The rav asked him what sort of blessing he sought, and the man replied, "This year went business went amazingly well. I know that Hashem can turn things around so I ask for one thing; that He should stay clear of my affairs and just let things continue to prosper."
Rav Sternbuch was shocked by the man's request and tried to make him see irrationality of his outlook. The Almighty orchestrates every detail of our existence and there is nothing which is not in His absolute control. Asking Him to stay out of one's business shows that one has not grasped the full extent of His Kingship.
The rav offered the businessman the following parable to help him understand the fallacy of his thinking: People readily purchase lottery tickets, even though the chances of winning are extremely slim. Since the stakes are so high, they are willing to spend money to enter despite the near-impossible odds. Moreover, they eagerly await the drawing of the winning numbers, hoping and praying that riches will be theirs.
When it comes to Rosh Hashanah, however, the odds that a person could receive a judgment involving much trial and suffering in the upcoming year are not remote. Yet we find that many people are pretty relaxed before the Day of Judgment, assuming that if things went OK last year they will stay OK in the following year. This complacency comes from the fact that they do not grasp the full extent of the din. And if we want the outcome of our judgment to be positive, we should first recognize that every aspect of our destiny is entirely in the Almighty's hands.
Guarding the Gates
"You should set up judges and police by all of your gates...Justice, justice pursue" (Devarim 16: 18, 20).
On a simple level, the Torah is instructing us to ensure that there is a justice system in Klal Yisrael. Judges make sure that the judicial laws of the Torah are properly upheld. Policemen protect the Jewish people from those who break the laws.
On a deeper level, the Torah is speaking personally to each Jew as an individual. All of us have gates; our eyes, mouth, and ears. We must guard these portals carefully and make sure that nothing which conflicts with Torah values enters us through them.
In this vein, the Torah writes "tzedek, tzedek tirdof", (justice, justice purse), repeating the word tzedek twice. While we must make sure to carry out justice on a national level, we should not forget that we must apply it to ourselves as well. Especially in regards to shemiras halashon, each person must establish his own personal guidelines, which will distance him from transgression.
Starting Fresh
"Do not set up for yourself a stone altar which Hashem hates" (Devarim 16: 22).
Once again, deviating from the simple reading of the pasuk gives us a deeper message to aid us in teshuvah. The Torah warns us from becoming cold and rigid like a stone altar, unable to bend and change. Rather we should view each day as an opportunity to turn over a new leaf and make a change for the better.
Elul is a time of tremendous Divine favor, and for this reason, the mazel of this month is a besula. Every kalla looks forward to her married life with as a fresh start, full of promise. We can live out the month of Elul with a similar sense of hope and anticipation.
The Arizal offers an allegorical explanation for the pasuk "and she cries for her father and mother for a month," referring to the eshes yafes toar. The father represents the Almighty, and the mother represents the Jewish people. During the year, we abandon our father and mother to pursue our heart’s worldly desires. During Elul we have an entire month to focus on rebuilding these fundamental relationships, and to regain to our original level of closeness.
On Rosh Hashanah the Almighty judges us "as we are at that moment." Our din on that day will reflect any changes that we have brought about in ourselves during Elul, no matter how small they may be. Let us seize this precious opportunity to ensure that we will be inscribed immediately into the book of life, health, and prosperity.
(Rabbi Travis is Rosh Kollel of Kollel Toras Chaim in Yerushalayim and is the author of Shaylos U'Teshuvos Toras Chaim and "Praying With Joy – A Daily Tefilla Companion" a practical daily guide to improving one's prayers, available from Feldheim Publishers. For more information about his work contact dytravis@actcom.com.)
(based on a derasha from
HaGaon Rav Moshe Sternbuch shlita,
Ravad of Yerushalayim, Leil Shabbos Shoftim)
Out of Order
We all know that Rosh Hashanah is the day when the Almighty issues our judgment for the upcoming year, while Yom Kippur is our opportunity to atone for our transgressions.
Based on this, Rav Yisrael Salanter asked a simple yet startling question: Aren’t these holidays out of order? Surely it would better for us to have our spiritual state wiped clean before our future fate is determined.
Rav Yisrael answers his own question by pointing out that in fact Rosh Hashanah has to come first. Through the awesome spirit of strict judgment of that day, we are able to perceive that Hashem is truly the undisputed ruler of the entire universe. Only after we have achieved this level of recognition are we worthy of being purified on Yom Kippur.
Rosh Hashanah is not a day of teshuvah. Throughout the long hours of davening, we do not say a single viduy. Rather Rosh Hashanah is a Yom Tov of malchious, recognizing that everything that happens in our lives is in His hands alone.
Rav Sternbuch was once approached by a businessman for a beracha right before Rosh Hashanah. The rav asked him what sort of blessing he sought, and the man replied, "This year went business went amazingly well. I know that Hashem can turn things around so I ask for one thing; that He should stay clear of my affairs and just let things continue to prosper."
Rav Sternbuch was shocked by the man's request and tried to make him see irrationality of his outlook. The Almighty orchestrates every detail of our existence and there is nothing which is not in His absolute control. Asking Him to stay out of one's business shows that one has not grasped the full extent of His Kingship.
The rav offered the businessman the following parable to help him understand the fallacy of his thinking: People readily purchase lottery tickets, even though the chances of winning are extremely slim. Since the stakes are so high, they are willing to spend money to enter despite the near-impossible odds. Moreover, they eagerly await the drawing of the winning numbers, hoping and praying that riches will be theirs.
When it comes to Rosh Hashanah, however, the odds that a person could receive a judgment involving much trial and suffering in the upcoming year are not remote. Yet we find that many people are pretty relaxed before the Day of Judgment, assuming that if things went OK last year they will stay OK in the following year. This complacency comes from the fact that they do not grasp the full extent of the din. And if we want the outcome of our judgment to be positive, we should first recognize that every aspect of our destiny is entirely in the Almighty's hands.
Guarding the Gates
"You should set up judges and police by all of your gates...Justice, justice pursue" (Devarim 16: 18, 20).
On a simple level, the Torah is instructing us to ensure that there is a justice system in Klal Yisrael. Judges make sure that the judicial laws of the Torah are properly upheld. Policemen protect the Jewish people from those who break the laws.
On a deeper level, the Torah is speaking personally to each Jew as an individual. All of us have gates; our eyes, mouth, and ears. We must guard these portals carefully and make sure that nothing which conflicts with Torah values enters us through them.
In this vein, the Torah writes "tzedek, tzedek tirdof", (justice, justice purse), repeating the word tzedek twice. While we must make sure to carry out justice on a national level, we should not forget that we must apply it to ourselves as well. Especially in regards to shemiras halashon, each person must establish his own personal guidelines, which will distance him from transgression.
Starting Fresh
"Do not set up for yourself a stone altar which Hashem hates" (Devarim 16: 22).
Once again, deviating from the simple reading of the pasuk gives us a deeper message to aid us in teshuvah. The Torah warns us from becoming cold and rigid like a stone altar, unable to bend and change. Rather we should view each day as an opportunity to turn over a new leaf and make a change for the better.
Elul is a time of tremendous Divine favor, and for this reason, the mazel of this month is a besula. Every kalla looks forward to her married life with as a fresh start, full of promise. We can live out the month of Elul with a similar sense of hope and anticipation.
The Arizal offers an allegorical explanation for the pasuk "and she cries for her father and mother for a month," referring to the eshes yafes toar. The father represents the Almighty, and the mother represents the Jewish people. During the year, we abandon our father and mother to pursue our heart’s worldly desires. During Elul we have an entire month to focus on rebuilding these fundamental relationships, and to regain to our original level of closeness.
On Rosh Hashanah the Almighty judges us "as we are at that moment." Our din on that day will reflect any changes that we have brought about in ourselves during Elul, no matter how small they may be. Let us seize this precious opportunity to ensure that we will be inscribed immediately into the book of life, health, and prosperity.
(Rabbi Travis is Rosh Kollel of Kollel Toras Chaim in Yerushalayim and is the author of Shaylos U'Teshuvos Toras Chaim and "Praying With Joy – A Daily Tefilla Companion" a practical daily guide to improving one's prayers, available from Feldheim Publishers. For more information about his work contact dytravis@actcom.com.)
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Entering Elul
Written by Rabbi Daniel Yaakov Travis
(based on a derasha from HaGaon Rav Moshe Sternbuch shlita, Ravad of Yerushalayim
Leil Shabbos Re'eh)
What Elul Once Was
Sefer Ohr Yisrael describes what Elul once was. The mere mention of the word "Elul" in shul on the Shabbos Mevarchim before Rosh Chodesh would cause people to faint in trepidation. Jews felt that Rosh Hashanah was quickly approaching and expressed this recognition through total involvement in Torah and mitzvos.
Rav Yoshe Ber Solevetchick, the Beis HaLevi was known for his elevated level of yiras shamayim. Every day he would place his hands over a fire, in order to instill within himself a feeling of what it would be like to have to pass through the purification of Gehenom. The Brisker Rav testified that Rav Yoshe Ber's hands were black from this daily torching.
All year long Beis Halevi's avoda was unparalleled. However during Elul his Divine service took on a completely new dimension. Anyone who saw his face realized that the Day of Judgment would soon be here.
Rav Shternbuch relates that when he was a young boy his father would learn Hilchos Teshuva of the Rambam at the Shabbos table during Elul. When his father passed away his mother carried on the tradition. Rav Shternbuch testifies that just hearing the nigun that his mother used to teach these halachos instilled within his heart a fear of the upcoming din.
One time a non-Jewish women came in Elul to the home asking Rav Shternbuch's mother for help. Rebbedson Sternbuch said that she had a court case coming soon, and asked if she could be in touch with her when it was finished. When the non-Jewish women offered her assistance, Rebbedson Stherbuch replied that she could only take care of this mater herself.
Elul in our days has certainly taken a radical shift from what it once was. However even in our generation we can still reap the tremendous gift of Elul. If we use these days of mercy properly we will come to the Yom Hadin prepared to be successful in the judgment that awaits us.
See For Yourself
"See what I have placed before you (the Jewish people)"… (Devarim 11,26 )
The Torah starts off writing the word see in the singular. However the verse concludes with the word the word lifnechem, which is plural. What is the deeper significance of this phrasing?
Hidden in this grammatical discrepancy Torah is the key how to successful teshuva. Many of us look around and think to ourselves that we are not doing so bad considering the lowly state that the world is in today. Comparing ourselves to others can bring us to a feeling of complacency that we really do not need to change.
For this reason the Torah addresses each and every one of us in the singular. Hashem is telling us "See yourself as an individual and do whatever is in your power to fix up, and disregard what is happening in the rest of the world." Only then will we be able change the bad habits we have acquired during the year that have caused us to stray from Him.
Take a Close Look
Looking around at people who are not keeping the Torah should provide us with another impetus to teshuva. Some of them spend their life in the pursuit of happiness, but how many of them can say that they have actually found it. Running after worldly pleasures usually brings one to depression, for it is impossible to attain even a small portion of what one desires.
Leading one's life like an animal filling his physical desires causes one to feel that his life is empty and without reason. On the other hand, someone who keeps the Torah can fell that there is great purpose to their existence. Every mitzvah that a person performs is a great pleasure and fills one's life with meaning.
Looking around superficially could cause one to make the mistake that those seeking physical pleasure are really fulfilled in their existence. For this reason the Torah commands us "See!", take a deeper look, and try to fathom what is really going on. Once the mask has been removed it will be self apparent that they are really not satisfied with their lives, and the empty outer façade is just a front to cover up their feeling of nothingness.
However if you look deeper at the Torah lifestyle you will see how substantative it is. Every mitzvah a Jew performs brings him joy in this world, and eternal life in the next. The Jewish people were given the "Living Torah", and only it contains the directives to a truly happy life.
Starting Fresh
"…before them today, a blessing and a curse…"(Devarim 11,26 )
Once again the Torah is revealing a powerful tool when addressing us with this directive "today". When involved with teshuva don't get caught up in the past and become overly involved with how low we may have fallen. Pick yourself up and start from fresh today, as if you had never transgressed.
Focusing too much on our misdeeds can be a cause to stop us from doing teshuva. Especially in our generation, it is very easy to get depressed and give up hope that we will ever be able to overcome the desires which can pull us far away from a true Torah lifestyle. In this vein the Torah guides us that we should start anew, with the happiness and freshness of someone who has never sinned.
Rav Chaim Brisker explained that this is why we mention every day in Krias Shema that the commandments were given hayom, today. Rather than living in the past or the future, we should place our main focus on the present. Every day we should feel that this is the first time we are keeping the Torah, and infuse our avoda with the freshness that comes with this outlook.
The Zohar speaks of the great praises of the Mara D'Chusbana, those people that make an accounting each day. Every day we should start our lives with a clean slate, and leave the past behind us. Each day should be viewed by itself, and at night, we should make an accounting if we succeeded in serving our Creator properly that day.
A Date in Court
Rav Yisrael Salanter asked in his generation why people are not more afraid in Elul? When we see someone getting ready for a court case he loses sleep at night trying to think of was that he can be victorious. How come we are so passive when our lives are on the line?
Rav Yisrael Salanter concludes that the source of the fear of someone who is awaiting a court case is that they feel that there is something for them to do. As long as they feel that they could do more they will try to accomplish whatever they can. We however feel that we are who we are, and tat we are unable to make major changes in our lives to influence the Divine ruling on Roish Hashamah.
Herein lies a fundamental error. Elul is a time of great heavenly favor and we can definitely make use of it to change our ways. If we connect to these days of mercy by trying our best to do teshuva, Hashem will respond accordingly.
In our generation where depression is rampant, we should not focus on the fear and trepidation of Elul. Rather we should strengthen within ourselves the feelings of the great privilege we have to serve the Creator of the universe. This will bring us to a state of great joy and closeness to our Father in Heaven.
The Torah hints to the aforementioned world outlook: "See what I have placed before you, a blessing and a curse, the blessing if you listen to the mitzvos of Hashem your G-d…"(Devarim 11,26 ). Fulfillment of the blessing is listening to Hashem's mitzvos and understanding the opportunity we have in our hands to serve the King of kings.
This is what Chazal meant when they said, "The reward of a mitzvah is a mitzvah." Our greatest remuneration is the fact that we can continue to serve Avinu Malkeinu.
(Rabbi Travis is Rosh Kollel of Kollel Toras Chaim in Yerushalayim and is the author of Shaylos U'Teshuvos Toras Chaim and "Praying With Joy – A Daily Tefilla Companion" a practical daily guide to improving one's prayers, available from Feldheim Publishers. For more information about his work contact dytravis@actcom.com.)
(based on a derasha from HaGaon Rav Moshe Sternbuch shlita, Ravad of Yerushalayim
Leil Shabbos Re'eh)
What Elul Once Was
Sefer Ohr Yisrael describes what Elul once was. The mere mention of the word "Elul" in shul on the Shabbos Mevarchim before Rosh Chodesh would cause people to faint in trepidation. Jews felt that Rosh Hashanah was quickly approaching and expressed this recognition through total involvement in Torah and mitzvos.
Rav Yoshe Ber Solevetchick, the Beis HaLevi was known for his elevated level of yiras shamayim. Every day he would place his hands over a fire, in order to instill within himself a feeling of what it would be like to have to pass through the purification of Gehenom. The Brisker Rav testified that Rav Yoshe Ber's hands were black from this daily torching.
All year long Beis Halevi's avoda was unparalleled. However during Elul his Divine service took on a completely new dimension. Anyone who saw his face realized that the Day of Judgment would soon be here.
Rav Shternbuch relates that when he was a young boy his father would learn Hilchos Teshuva of the Rambam at the Shabbos table during Elul. When his father passed away his mother carried on the tradition. Rav Shternbuch testifies that just hearing the nigun that his mother used to teach these halachos instilled within his heart a fear of the upcoming din.
One time a non-Jewish women came in Elul to the home asking Rav Shternbuch's mother for help. Rebbedson Sternbuch said that she had a court case coming soon, and asked if she could be in touch with her when it was finished. When the non-Jewish women offered her assistance, Rebbedson Stherbuch replied that she could only take care of this mater herself.
Elul in our days has certainly taken a radical shift from what it once was. However even in our generation we can still reap the tremendous gift of Elul. If we use these days of mercy properly we will come to the Yom Hadin prepared to be successful in the judgment that awaits us.
See For Yourself
"See what I have placed before you (the Jewish people)"… (Devarim 11,26 )
The Torah starts off writing the word see in the singular. However the verse concludes with the word the word lifnechem, which is plural. What is the deeper significance of this phrasing?
Hidden in this grammatical discrepancy Torah is the key how to successful teshuva. Many of us look around and think to ourselves that we are not doing so bad considering the lowly state that the world is in today. Comparing ourselves to others can bring us to a feeling of complacency that we really do not need to change.
For this reason the Torah addresses each and every one of us in the singular. Hashem is telling us "See yourself as an individual and do whatever is in your power to fix up, and disregard what is happening in the rest of the world." Only then will we be able change the bad habits we have acquired during the year that have caused us to stray from Him.
Take a Close Look
Looking around at people who are not keeping the Torah should provide us with another impetus to teshuva. Some of them spend their life in the pursuit of happiness, but how many of them can say that they have actually found it. Running after worldly pleasures usually brings one to depression, for it is impossible to attain even a small portion of what one desires.
Leading one's life like an animal filling his physical desires causes one to feel that his life is empty and without reason. On the other hand, someone who keeps the Torah can fell that there is great purpose to their existence. Every mitzvah that a person performs is a great pleasure and fills one's life with meaning.
Looking around superficially could cause one to make the mistake that those seeking physical pleasure are really fulfilled in their existence. For this reason the Torah commands us "See!", take a deeper look, and try to fathom what is really going on. Once the mask has been removed it will be self apparent that they are really not satisfied with their lives, and the empty outer façade is just a front to cover up their feeling of nothingness.
However if you look deeper at the Torah lifestyle you will see how substantative it is. Every mitzvah a Jew performs brings him joy in this world, and eternal life in the next. The Jewish people were given the "Living Torah", and only it contains the directives to a truly happy life.
Starting Fresh
"…before them today, a blessing and a curse…"(Devarim 11,26 )
Once again the Torah is revealing a powerful tool when addressing us with this directive "today". When involved with teshuva don't get caught up in the past and become overly involved with how low we may have fallen. Pick yourself up and start from fresh today, as if you had never transgressed.
Focusing too much on our misdeeds can be a cause to stop us from doing teshuva. Especially in our generation, it is very easy to get depressed and give up hope that we will ever be able to overcome the desires which can pull us far away from a true Torah lifestyle. In this vein the Torah guides us that we should start anew, with the happiness and freshness of someone who has never sinned.
Rav Chaim Brisker explained that this is why we mention every day in Krias Shema that the commandments were given hayom, today. Rather than living in the past or the future, we should place our main focus on the present. Every day we should feel that this is the first time we are keeping the Torah, and infuse our avoda with the freshness that comes with this outlook.
The Zohar speaks of the great praises of the Mara D'Chusbana, those people that make an accounting each day. Every day we should start our lives with a clean slate, and leave the past behind us. Each day should be viewed by itself, and at night, we should make an accounting if we succeeded in serving our Creator properly that day.
A Date in Court
Rav Yisrael Salanter asked in his generation why people are not more afraid in Elul? When we see someone getting ready for a court case he loses sleep at night trying to think of was that he can be victorious. How come we are so passive when our lives are on the line?
Rav Yisrael Salanter concludes that the source of the fear of someone who is awaiting a court case is that they feel that there is something for them to do. As long as they feel that they could do more they will try to accomplish whatever they can. We however feel that we are who we are, and tat we are unable to make major changes in our lives to influence the Divine ruling on Roish Hashamah.
Herein lies a fundamental error. Elul is a time of great heavenly favor and we can definitely make use of it to change our ways. If we connect to these days of mercy by trying our best to do teshuva, Hashem will respond accordingly.
In our generation where depression is rampant, we should not focus on the fear and trepidation of Elul. Rather we should strengthen within ourselves the feelings of the great privilege we have to serve the Creator of the universe. This will bring us to a state of great joy and closeness to our Father in Heaven.
The Torah hints to the aforementioned world outlook: "See what I have placed before you, a blessing and a curse, the blessing if you listen to the mitzvos of Hashem your G-d…"(Devarim 11,26 ). Fulfillment of the blessing is listening to Hashem's mitzvos and understanding the opportunity we have in our hands to serve the King of kings.
This is what Chazal meant when they said, "The reward of a mitzvah is a mitzvah." Our greatest remuneration is the fact that we can continue to serve Avinu Malkeinu.
(Rabbi Travis is Rosh Kollel of Kollel Toras Chaim in Yerushalayim and is the author of Shaylos U'Teshuvos Toras Chaim and "Praying With Joy – A Daily Tefilla Companion" a practical daily guide to improving one's prayers, available from Feldheim Publishers. For more information about his work contact dytravis@actcom.com.)
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