Rav Shlomo Shtencel zt”l, the initiator and promoter of the daily Mishnah and Halachah study programs, once spoke of the atmosphere in the Chevron Yeshivah during Elul in his youth. The entire yeshivah was enveloped in awe and sanctity, and a profound sense of seriousness and reverence permeated the environment.
One of the yeshivah’s most outstanding talmidim, a brilliant and exceptional scholar, was Rav Yitzchak Greenberg zt”l, who had come from Riga, Russia, to study at the esteemed yeshivah.
During Elul, some younger talmidim asked Rav Yitzchak to deliver a discourse on the essence of the day and the greatness of Elul. Rav Shlomo recounted that this “holy talk” by Rav Yitzchak profoundly stirred the hearts of the talmidim and remained etched in his memory for many years.
Among the things Rav Yitzchak said in his talk, was an analogy comparing the spiritual avodah of Elul to the great steel factories recently been established in Russia to produce fighter planes and warships.
The massive factories located in Moscow’s industrial outskirts produced steel. For the steel to solidify and strengthen properly, it was left out for several days under the sun to dry. Occasionally, rain unexpectedly fell during this drying process, soaking the enormous steel slabs. If the steel was not brought under cover immediately, it would develop rust. Even if the rust was invisible externally, it would begin to decay from within.
After such rains, the steel had to undergo a special inspection to determine whether the rain had compromised its quality. However, if the rain had come after the steel fully dried internally, the water did not penetrate, and the steel’s quality remained intact.
The Russian steel manufacturers had a unique method for testing the internal quality of the steel after rainfall. They used a strong magnetic rod, relying on the magnet’s natural tendency to be attracted to iron. The inspectors passed the rod along the entire length of the steel slabs from start to finish. If the iron pulled the magnet strongly and adhered firmly, this showed that the iron had remained intact. However, if the magnet did not attach firmly, the inspectors concluded that the quality of the iron had deteriorated, likely due to internal rust, rendering the steel unfit for use.
This factoid was cited by mashgichim in the Lithuanian yeshivos as a powerful metaphor for the spiritual avodah of Elul.
Each individual, too, can use this metaphor to examine himself inwardly and evaluate his spiritual level in the Torah, sanctity, and avodas Hashem during Elul. If one feels a powerful pull toward Torah and avodas Hashem, and one’s soul yearns wholeheartedly to cleave to the living God, it is a sign that the soul is robust and firmly connected to Hashem. But if not, one can know with certainty that there is likely “rust” within his soul that signifies the beginning of spiritual deterioration, chas veshalom.
Thus, during Elul, one must work diligently to remove the accumulated rust, purify the soul from every impurity and flaw, and prepare for the great and awe-inspiring Day of Judgment.
