This Shabbat we bless the month of Elul, which begins this coming Thursday and Friday. Elul is the month in which we prepare for the upcoming High Holidays by customarily blowing the shofar each morning, having our mezuzos and Tefillin checked to make sure they are still kosher and proper, and pay more adherence to being careful with keeping kosher and reciting special penitential prayers (selichot) towards the end of the month.
Why do we do all of this in the month of Elul? Can't it wait until we're closer to Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur? Most of us "work" better under pressure anyway!
This question is answered through a parable loaded with much depth and which is often quoted in the mystical teachings of Chassidus which reveal to us the secret power and inner dimension of this month.
Once each year, a very mighty king would dress up in plainclothes, leave his palace, his guards, his finery, and would go out into the field to meet with his subjects.
In the field, anyone who so desires, could just easily walk up to the king without any appointment, and speak to the great monarch and ask of him anything he wishes. No need to wait many months or years for an appointment, no need to even wait in a long queue, nor go through any security checks, nor be announced ceremoniously. Anyone can speak directly with him without any delay.
However, once the king returns to his palace, his subjects will once again have to go through much protocol to meet with him. So, of course, all forward thinking subjects make the most of this opportunity. It is for this reason, we choose not to delay this great opportunity when spiritually speaking, this parable is an exact depiction of what is spiritually available to us all during this entire month!!!
During this entire month of Elul, G-d is so to speak "in the field!" He makes himself more accessible to hearing us more than any other time of the year by exercising greater mercy than at any other time of the year. We don't need to cut through any red tape or engage any defendor through which to reach him. We only need to take the initiative towards reaching out to him through extra repentance and good deeds, and we can then rest assured and be guaranteed that his loving embrace and blessings will rebound to us in even greater measure for the upcoming year!
The King will soon be in the field. Let's not miss this awesome opportunity!
