A GEULAHDIKE TESHUVAH
Elul
The holy works connect the month of Elul to Torah Pesukim whose Roshei Teivos spell out the word Elul. These Pesukim express the Avodah which we should focus on during this special month. The Rebbe identifies five such Pesukim for which Elul is an acronym;
The first 3 of these Pesukim represent the three pillars on which the world stands; Torah, Avodah (prayer) and Gemilus Chassadim (acts of kindness and charity).
The verse “I am to my beloved and my beloved is to me” represents the pillar of prayer. Through Tefillah, we draw ourselves closer to Hashem.
“And G-d has caused it to come to his hand, I shall provide you a place to which he shall flee” refers to the inadvertent killer who must flee to a city of refuge. This refers to Torah study which absorbs a person and provides refuge and protection from the Yetzer Hora.
“Sending gifts each man to his fellow, and gifts to the poor” refers to acts of kindness and charity. In a broader sense, Tzedakah refers to the keeping of the Mitzvos of the Torah.
These pillars encapsulate the totality of Torah observance, how we as Jews should live their lives.
When a person fails or is lacking in the observance of Torah and Mitzvos, they require Teshuvah. Teshuvah accesses a deeper level than the observance of Torah and Mitzvos reaches and is therefore able to make-up for any lacking in our observance.
The fourth verse, circumcision of the heart, represents Teshuvah, through which we remove the concealments to reveal the inner love and desire that each soul possesses to serve Hashem.
The final verse, which comes from the Song of the Sea, is connected to Geulah (redemption).
Chassidus teaches that the soul also has five levels. These five levels are connected to the 5 verses and the Avodah that they reflect.
The lower three levels of the Neshama; Nefesh, Ruach and Neshama are the conscious levels of the Neshama - action, emotion and intellect. These dimensions manifest themselves daily in our keeping of Mitzvos (Nefesh), prayer (Ruach) and Torah study (Neshama) which are the first three Pesukim.
When we struggle to overcome our Yetzer Hora on these three levels, through Teshuvah, we access a deeper level of the Neshama, the fourth level which is called Chaya. Chaya is the soul’s strong desire for connection to Hashem which transcends rationale. But even this deep desire is not always sufficient to quell the desires of our Yetzer Hora.
The fifth level, the Yechida is the essential core and identity of the Neshama. The Yechida is the dimension of the Neshama which is absolutely one with and surrendered to Hashem. This oneness transcends logic and reason and cannot be blemished or corrupted.
The Yechida is connected to the Geulah. When the Yechida is revealed, all of the obstacles to serving Hashem fall away. When the Yechida is revealed we become completely spiritually liberated.
The Rebbe has taught us that we are the generation who will merit the Geulah and that we must start to live Geulah in our own lives and Avodas Hashem.
Teshuvah of Geulah starts immediately with the fifth verse. We are able to reveal our Yechida, our absolute oneness with Hashem which gives us strength and resolve to overcome all obstacles as though they do not exist. We must then bring it down so that our Teshuvah and observance of Torah and Mitzvos with the conscious levels of the Neshama are permeated by this oneness and resolve.
- אני לדודי ודודי לי - “I am to my beloved and my beloved is to me”. (Shir Hashirim 6:3)
- ואשר לא צדה, והאלהים אנה לידו ושמתי לך מקום, אשר ינוס שמה - “and G-d has caused it to come to his hand, I shall provide you a place to which he shall flee”. (Shemos 21:13)
- איש לריעהו, ומתנות לאביונים - “sending gifts each man to his fellow, and gifts to the poor”. (Esther 9:22)
- ומל ה' אלוהיך את-לבבך, ואת-לבב זרעך - “and Hashem will circumcise your heart and the hearts of your descendants”. (Devarim 30:6)
- אשירה לה' ויאמרו לאמר - rearranging the words “and they said, saying I will sing to Hashem”. (Shemos 15:1)
The first 3 of these Pesukim represent the three pillars on which the world stands; Torah, Avodah (prayer) and Gemilus Chassadim (acts of kindness and charity).
The verse “I am to my beloved and my beloved is to me” represents the pillar of prayer. Through Tefillah, we draw ourselves closer to Hashem.
“And G-d has caused it to come to his hand, I shall provide you a place to which he shall flee” refers to the inadvertent killer who must flee to a city of refuge. This refers to Torah study which absorbs a person and provides refuge and protection from the Yetzer Hora.
“Sending gifts each man to his fellow, and gifts to the poor” refers to acts of kindness and charity. In a broader sense, Tzedakah refers to the keeping of the Mitzvos of the Torah.
These pillars encapsulate the totality of Torah observance, how we as Jews should live their lives.
When a person fails or is lacking in the observance of Torah and Mitzvos, they require Teshuvah. Teshuvah accesses a deeper level than the observance of Torah and Mitzvos reaches and is therefore able to make-up for any lacking in our observance.
The fourth verse, circumcision of the heart, represents Teshuvah, through which we remove the concealments to reveal the inner love and desire that each soul possesses to serve Hashem.
The final verse, which comes from the Song of the Sea, is connected to Geulah (redemption).
Chassidus teaches that the soul also has five levels. These five levels are connected to the 5 verses and the Avodah that they reflect.
The lower three levels of the Neshama; Nefesh, Ruach and Neshama are the conscious levels of the Neshama - action, emotion and intellect. These dimensions manifest themselves daily in our keeping of Mitzvos (Nefesh), prayer (Ruach) and Torah study (Neshama) which are the first three Pesukim.
When we struggle to overcome our Yetzer Hora on these three levels, through Teshuvah, we access a deeper level of the Neshama, the fourth level which is called Chaya. Chaya is the soul’s strong desire for connection to Hashem which transcends rationale. But even this deep desire is not always sufficient to quell the desires of our Yetzer Hora.
The fifth level, the Yechida is the essential core and identity of the Neshama. The Yechida is the dimension of the Neshama which is absolutely one with and surrendered to Hashem. This oneness transcends logic and reason and cannot be blemished or corrupted.
The Yechida is connected to the Geulah. When the Yechida is revealed, all of the obstacles to serving Hashem fall away. When the Yechida is revealed we become completely spiritually liberated.
The Rebbe has taught us that we are the generation who will merit the Geulah and that we must start to live Geulah in our own lives and Avodas Hashem.
Teshuvah of Geulah starts immediately with the fifth verse. We are able to reveal our Yechida, our absolute oneness with Hashem which gives us strength and resolve to overcome all obstacles as though they do not exist. We must then bring it down so that our Teshuvah and observance of Torah and Mitzvos with the conscious levels of the Neshama are permeated by this oneness and resolve.