Q: What should we think about during Chodesh Ellul when we hear the shofar?
A: When you hear the shofar being blown there are many things to think about; not one thing. But number one you have to think ו„יחר ‡ל ועם בעיר ופר ̆ ע ̃ ̇י ם‡ — Could it be that they blow a shofar in the city and the people are not afraid?! (Amos 3:6). You have to be afraid right away! You have to be afraid; eimas hadin – fear of the judgment. It’s very important. The day is coming and you must be afraid.
Now, being afraid however has to have some practical results. You’re saying in selichos all the time something that you never do. ורה ̃ונח רכינו„ ה ̆נחפ – We will search out our ways (Eichah 3:40). Do you search your ways? You never do it! Did you sit down for five minutes once in your life and search out your ways? Never! Oh, but he’s saying selichos; ורה ̃ונח רכינו„ ה ̆נחפ. Mmmmuh mmmmuh. He’s mumbling the words. What a pity.
So the shofar says, “Start searching your ways!” At least five minutes! Five minutes by the way is a very small time to make an inventory on your business. A businessman who makes only five minute inventory will go broke. He needs much more than five minutes. But at least that! At least you shouldn’t be a shakran. The whole world is deceiving Hashem. וני„כב יו ̇פ ̆וב בפיו – With his mouth and his lips he honors Me; he says “I will search out my ways,” ממני ̃רח ולבו – but his heart is far away from Me (Yeshaya 29:13). He doesn’t think about it at all. It’s a terrible thing.
So when you hear the shofar, think about your ways. Nachpesah! And if you search you’ll find. If you mean business you’ll find because there’s no lack of things to discover. Oh yes, there’s plenty to find. And therefore we should be sure to make use of the shofar blowing in Ellul and not merely let it blow for nothing.
TAPE # E-124 (September 1997)
