There are two ways to come out winning in the fearful judgment of Rosh Hashanah. Teshuvah, which entails rectifying and improving deeds, can bring a person to be judged as righteous. And there is another way: to be in the “embrace” of HaKadosh Baruch Hu. We will focus on the second way.
At this time of year, a Jew feels the awesomeness of the days in his whole being: he is being “embraced,” so to speak, in the arms of Hakadosh Baruch Hu, and at the same time, he is being judged by Him. Both feelings, of closeness and fear, join to envelop him. So all his conduct in this month is totally different from during the rest of the year. And being in the “embrace” of HaKadosh Baruch Hu causes his judgment to be conducted completely differently. A Jew who draws close to Hashem, who is living a life of “He dwells in the shelter of the Most High, he lies in the shade of the Almighty”6 – has a way to rescue himself. As it says: From You, I will flee to You.7
It is well known that early Torah sources explain that the word אלול stands for “I belong to my Beloved, and my Beloved is mine.”8 Elul is a time of closeness with HaKadosh Baruch Hu. It cannot constitute merely a temporary friendship, for this is not called “beloved.” Thus, these days are the time to acquire a relationship with Hashem. We are saved from the judgment by the embrace of HaKadosh Baruch Hu, by building a closeness and connection with Him — which is the main avodah of these days.
This is one of the basic principles of Judaism that have become so forgotten from us: our Yiddishkeit, our mitzvos and tefilos, are not just “buttons” that we need to press in order to get Hashem to grant us life and protection and other things we seek. Indeed, there are spiritual systems governing how things happen in the world. There are systems of tefilah, of Torah and of siyata d’Shemaya. But the foundation of everything is “my Beloved.” A connection with Hashem, with the Elokim Chayim. He is live and real.
