This takes place at the end of Tishrei, when we have to focus on channeling what we took out of Tishrei into the coming days, weeks and months.
One of the themes of Tishrei is pnimiyus. On Hoshana Rabo, just before the final climax of the season, we completed 50 days (give or take, my calculator stopped working) of saying fervently “Lecho omar libi bakshu ponoy”. Over and over we reiterated our heartfelt desire, that our relationship with the Eibishter should be face to face, - “ponim b’ponim”. The Yomim Tovim of Tishrei, each in their own unique way, provided us with the inspiration and the kochos to actually implement this.
Now then is the time to focus on our interest on being greeted by the Rebbe’s face, and on ensuring that we, therefore, don’t – G-d forbid – turn our backs to him. It is a time to take the fervent and oft repeated wish of “bakshu ponoy” and make it a part of our daily lives and of our very existence.
It is the perfect time to see to it that all aspects of our Yiddishkeit are truly an expression of our pnimiyus. This is also the surest way to bringing about the fulfillment of another of the roshei teivos of the year – תהאשנת עין בעין – that we stand with the Eibishter “eye to Eye” and face to face!
L’chaim! May we all do all that’s in our power to ensure that we are greeting the Eibishter with a smiling face – and not G-d forbid turning our backs to Him – and may Hashem in turn show His face and His smiling countenance to us, and bring an immediate end to the overlong period of hester ponim, by bringing us immediately the revelation of the Geulah, when “Ayin b’Ayin yiru”, through the hisgalus of Moshiach Tzidkeinu TUMYM!!!
Rabbi Akiva Wagner
