Don’t we all want something out of life. Each of us has his or her own hopes for the future, and our own individual plans on how to achieve them. Throughout our lives we try to acquire wisdom, improve our inner character, and fulfill our obligations to G-d and our fellow man. And, like any other goal, it’s necessary to occasionally take time out to assess our progress. Are we really on the right track? Is there something we can correct or eliminate?
To meet this need, G-d gives us an entire month each year before Rosh Hashana—the month of Elul—for introspection and self-improvement. Putting our lives under the microscope and honestly taking stock enables us to greet the coming year head on and ensure that it be one of spiritual advancement.
The Alter Rebbe, Rabbi Shneur Zalman, founder of Chabad Chasidut, used the analogy of “the king in the field” to describe the month of Elul. For 11 months of the year the king is ensconced in his palace, surrounded by guards, isolated and remote from the common man. In Elul, however, the king goes out to the countryside to greet his constituents, and everyone is permitted to approach him with his personal requests.
In Elul, G-d is close to the Jew, and this proximity is felt by all of us. Even if we lack the spiritual vocabulary to articulate it, we all experience a spiritual arousal at this time of year—an inexplicable urge to change and improve ourselves. Furthermore, G-d grants us special powers during Elul to succeed where we might have failed before. He wants us to do better, and helps us fulfill our resolutions for good.
May we all utilize these days of Elul wisely, and take advantage of the unique opportunity for growth it contains.