Prepared for Purity
The joy in the fact that Elul has special siyatta diShmaya for teshuvah—more than at any other time—is an incredible joy. A person carries around old habits that he can’t seem to shake off... even after so much time.... He therefore asks Hashem to sign him up for the “special promotion” running this month.
He asks Hashem, “Can I still sign up?” And he is told, “Sure, but you must first be a ליטהר בא, to take a significant first step... being prepared to abandon the old habits in all areas of your life.”
And this requires a cheshon hanefesh, an honest personal reckoning. Because Hashem will ask him, “Which area of your life are you truly prepared to change?... Honesty in finances? To clean up your speech? Where do you want to change?” And if a person can’t answer this question, this will indicate that he isn’t serious.
This is what tzaddikim have taught us: That part of the ליטהר בא, to be prepared for purity, is the reckoning that a person undertakes—for in this way he connects to the truth. It takes truth and honesty to know what we need to repair, to acknowledge the price that it will entail, and to be truly prepared for it. That commitment to the truth, the tzaddikim tell us, is what brings about the Heavenly assistance that is promised to all those who seek to do teshuvah.
As we embark on this journey, may we all be zoche to abundant סעייתא דשמיא in our teshuvah endeavor.
