This Shabbos is the 25th of Elul. This day is one of great significance in history, or rather, “pre-history.”
The “birthday of the world,” as we call Rosh HaShana in the tefilos, was 1 Tishrei. This corresponds with the creation of Man in the Six Days of Creation.
Since the sixth day was 1 Tishrei, that means 25 Elul was the day Hashem started Creation, setting into motion His plan for our world.
We don’t focus on the days of Creation prior to Man because without him, Creation was for naught. Only when the guest of honor arrives is the party complete.
On Motzai Shabbos, we begin Selichos, the prayers recited at least four days prior to Rosh HaShana, corresponding to the four days an animal was checked for blemishes prior to becoming a korban.
They always begin on Sunday, just as Creation did. Perhaps we can learn from this that just as the world was started on 25 Elul and culminated on Rosh HaShana with the formation of Man, so should we use the days of Selichos and the next week to determine what kind of person we’d like to become when Rosh HaShana rolls around.
Then, hopefully, with that preparation we can live up to the expectations Hashem had for us when He began creating the world.
Thought of the week:
“Let us make Man” was Hashem inviting us to be His partners in our perfection.
