Brief History
The 18th of Elul is a luminous day of truly immense proportion; the Hebrew number eighteen spells Chai, “life,” and on this day two lofty souls entered this world to introduce unprecedented G-dly light and life: Reb Yisrael Baal Shem Tov, the founder of Chassidism, was born on the 18th of Elul 5458 (1698); on the 18th of Elul 5484 (1724), the prophet Achiyah Hashiloni began teaching the Baal Shem Tov – and on the same auspicious date in the year 5494 (1734), the Baal Shem Tov revealed himself and his teachings to the world. The Alter Rebbe, Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, founder of Chabad Chassidus, was born on the 18th of Elul 5505 (1745), whereupon the Baal Shem Tov proclaimed: A new soul has descended into this world, and it will illuminate the world with the light of the revealed parts of Torah and the light of Chassidus; it is a soul that will offer itself for the good of Chassidus and whose accomplishments will usher in the era of Moshiach.
Two Sayings that Capture the Theme of Chai Elul
The Previous Rebbe – Two Quotes
The Previous Rebbe highlighted two adages that explain the unique virtue of Chai Elul as it relates to our Divine service of the month of Elul:
- “Chai Elul is the day that brought – and brings – vitality into the month of Elul.” He then added by way of explanation: Chai Elul gives a vitality to the service of Ani leDodi veDodi Li, “I [the Jewish people] am to my Beloved [G-d], and my Beloved is to me.”
- “Chai Elul is the first of the final twelve days of the month of Elul – each of which corresponds to another of the twelve months of the year; a day for a month. In these twelve days, one should take stock of the Divine service he performed over the twelve months of the outgoing year. Thus, on the actual day of Chai Elul, one takes stock of last year’s month of Tishrei; and so on regarding each of these twelve days that culminate with Rosh Hashanah.”
The Rebbe – Today is the Elul of Elul
It is clear from the above sayings, that it is not merely the individual details of our Divine service that receive a boost on Chai Elul – but rather, our entire service of Elul is advanced. Chai Elul adds Chayus, “vitality,” to Elul – to the extent that it is on this day that we begin our truthful self-accounting regarding all twelve months of the past year. Now, the month of Elul is itself a month of stock-taking, so Chai Elul constitutes the ‘Elul’ within Elul.
