A business associate who grew up distant from Torah and mitzvos was sitting shivah. I promised him that I would come and arrange for Mincha and Maariv with a minyan. He would gather the people, and I would take care of whatever was connected to observance that they were unfamiliar with from home. My friend was very happy, and indeed I left early enough to arrive on time for the tefillos. Except that I had not taken into account a huge traffic jam that was caused by a certain group of protesters that blocked the road. The GPS showed that it would take 40 minutes to pass a distance of 4.6 kilometers, which should take 5 minutes if the road were clear. Time was passing, and the GPS was now showing 52 minutes... The pressure was mounting, and I knew that if I was not there, there would be no tefillos and no Kaddish. I tried to arrange for people from his city, perhaps there was someone who could go up to the shivah house and arrange it in my place, but I was not successful. My friend who was with me in the car tried to calm me and said that I was considered an oneis [circumstances beyond my control], and that we would make a minyan at the side of the road... But on the line was my associate, and I was calming him, telling him that everything would be fine and that there would be miracles...
I cried out to the Creator of the world that He should help me. Suddenly I decided to go down to the side of the road. I drove a few dozen meters until I saw a right turn onto an unpaved path. I turned and drove, not knowing where, but the main thing was not to sit in this traffic jam that was not moving. My friend told me that I was completely insane, because I was also missing the opportunity for Mincha that could be arranged with a minyan at the side of the road. But my heart simply led me onto this path. I reached a side road. I glanced at the navigation device, and it showed me 2 minutes to the destination!!! From fifty-two minutes down to two minutes!!! A few minutes before shkiya [sunset] we were already standing for Mincha!!!
It sounds imaginary and absurd, but it actually happened to me, and I have a reliable witness who thought I was not sane to testify to the miracle. If you truly want and truly cry out with all your heart, the Creator of the world is not limited to making for you a Kefitzas Haderech (a miraculous shortening of the way)!!!
Based on this passage, the holy sefarim (see Likkutei HaRim on the month of Elul) encouraged one to praise Hashem more during the holy month of Elul.
The reason for arranging Hashem’s praises first is explained by Rashi (Berachos 4b): “David Hamelech hinted at this practice in Tehillim, as it is written (19:15), לִ בִּ י וְהֶגְיוֹן פִ י אִ מְ רֵ י לְרָצוֹן יִ הְ יוּ וְגֹ אֲ לִ י צוּרִ י ›ה לְ פָ נֶיךָ - May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing before You, Hashem, my rock and my Redeemer. This is immediately followed by (20:2), יַעַנְךָ צָ רָ ה בְּיוֹם ›ה - May Hashem answer you on the day of distress. The Yerushalmi (Berachos 1:1) elaborates: “One who does not juxtapose redemption (the tefillos ending with Ga’al Yisrael) to prayer is like a friend of the king who comes and knocks on the king’s door. When the king opens and finds that the person has distanced himself, the king, too, distances himself. Instead, a person should draw close to Hakadosh Baruch Hu, appeasing Him with praises and songs so that God, in turn, draws close to him. While the person remains close, he should then present his requests.”
These ideas align beautifully with the pasuk (Shemos 15:1), ›הלּ שִׁ י רָ האָ אמֹרלֵ יֹּאמְרוּוַ - And they said, saying, I will sing to Hashem, as the initial letters of this phrase form the word אלול, Elul. Thus, the essence of the work of Elul is to arrange Hashem’s praises for all the goodness He has bestowed upon us, individually and collectively, throughout the past year. We recognize His abundant kindness, express gratitude, and praise Him for it. This is the basis for the custom of reciting Tehillim and piyutim during Elul.
As Rashi explains, arranging praises and songs to Hashem constitutes our “knocking” on the gates of Heaven during Elul, much like a beloved friend of the king knocking on his door. These songs and praises serve as our knock on the Gates of Mercy, as we say in the Selichos: “Like paupers and destitute, we knock on Your door.” (See Bnei Yissaschar, Elul 1:8, where it is explained that in this month, the gates and doorways are opened.) Through this preparation, we will merit that the King comes out to greet us on the Day of Kingship, Rosh Hashanah, and during the approaching Days of Awe, accepting our prayers with mercy and favor, Amen.
