We have just begun the very special month of Elul. The Mishna Berura famously states that the letters of the word “Elul” are roshey tevos for “Ani l’Dodi v’Dodi li”. As we explained last week, the month of Elul is a time of teshuva, of being mamlich Hashem and of being mekabel ol Malchus Shamayim. Doing so is always an avoda, but in easier times it is less of an avoda than in times of hester and difficulty.
During this period we must not only seek the avoda of “dodi li”, but also that of “ani l’Dodi”. In the hardest of times, before going to war, when sold to Mitzrayim - the ervas ha’aretz - all alone, during times of persecution for learning Torah and being killed with metal combs, and certainly in current times when the nisyonos, both physical and spiritual, overwhelm us, it is a time of “Ani l’Dodi”. We must engage in the unconditional love of Hashem and cry out Shema Yisrael Hashem Elokenu Hashem echad.
