By: Chaya Sora Jungreis-Gertzulin

While it still be hot outdoors, and the sun is shining brightly, summer is slowly coming to an end. The back-to-school sales are being advertised, and the shelves are already stocked with knapsacks and notebooks, pens and pencils, reminding us that the end of August is approaching, with September not far behind.

As Jews, we have another reminder. Elul. This Shabbos is Shabbos Mevorchim Elul. Elul is HaShem’s gift of time to us as a preparation for Rosh HaShana. A time to take a good look at ourselves and ask how can I improve. What can I do to prepare for the awesome days when we stand in judgment for our past deeds and plead for a new year

Elul is a time to turn to HaShem with tefilla. The root of the word tefilla is pileil. To judge, to contemplate. Before davening, and especially during the month of Elul, to take some time out for introspection and self-reflection. Time to ask ourselves, where am I going in life, what’s it all about.

Tefilla also means to connect. Davening is a time to strengthen our connection to HaShem, to ask not only for ourselves but for others. For family, friends, Am Yisroel and Eretz Yisroel. No request is too small, no wish is too large. Daven for ordinary things, daven for the miracles we all need.

It is said about Elul, Hamelech b’sodeh, the King is in the field. HaShem leaves His palace to be closer to His people, to listen to their needs. So take advantage and daven, and then daven some more. As the Navi Yeshayahu says, “Dirshu HaShem b’heematzo, Seek out HaShem when He can be found, kra’auhu b’heyos karov, call upon Him when He is near.” (Yeshayahu 55:6) Not only is HaShem waiting for us to turn to Him during Elul, but it is said that the neshamos of our ancestors, our bubbas and zeides are pleading our case before HaShem’s throne.

Tik’u bachodesh shofar. As a wake-up call to prepare us for Rosh HaShana, we sound the shofar during the month of Elul. As a child, I knew that Elul had arrived when I heard the soul-stirring sounds of the shofar that my father zt”l blew each morning. I went off to school with Elul on my mind.

Elul is a time for change and new beginnings. One is never too old, and it is never too late. One of my sons-in-law, Ellie, who is a physician, related the following story to me. An older colleague of his in the hospital recently approached him with a request. “I’m already getting on in years, I haven’t put on tefillin since my Bar Mitzva. I don’t even know where my tefillin are. Now that I’m getting older, I’m thinking of my life, of my destiny, and building a connection to G-d. I want to start putting on tefillin again, but don’t know where or how to begin.” Ellie purchased a pair of tefillin, showed him how to put them on, and taught him the proper brachos to be recited when doing so. Like the doctor who made change in his life, Elul has the power to transform each and every one of us.

This Shabbos, we read Parshas Re’eh. Re’eh is always read either on Shabbos Mevorchim Elul (like this year) or on Shabbos Rosh Chodesh Elul. This is no coincidence, as the spirit of Elul is very much present in the parsha. In fact, in the opening pasuk, Moshe tells Klal Yisroel, “Re’eh anochi nosein lifneichem hayom bracha u’klala, See, I present before you today a blessing and a curse.” (Devarim 11:26). The choice is in our hands. It’s Chodesh Elul. Make the right choice.

Re’eh is part of Moshe’s final message to Bnei Yisroel. By using the term “hayom – today”, Moshe is emphasizing that this message is only not for his generation, but for all time. Moshe is telling us, look, observe the world around us. Re’eh, to see with our own eyes the blessings that come with a Torah-imbued life. A life of ethics, morals, and family values.

The Slonimer Rebbe teaches that Parshas Re’eh being read Elul time comes with a message of “seeing”. That during the month of Elul, HaShem gives us “super vision”, making it easier for us to see the correct life path to follow, to merit teshuva, to be judged favorably on Rosh HaShana for a year of health, prosperity, nachas, mazal and bracha.

Rav Chanina teaches that hakol b’yedei Shomayim, Everything is in the hands of the Above, chutz m’yiras Shomayim, except for a fear and reverence of Heaven. It’s all in HaShem’s hands, if a soul will be male or female, healthy or sickly, tall or short, beautiful or plain, rich or poor. Characteristics and life circumstances are from Above. But yiras Shomayim, one’s respect and reverence for Heaven, how we react and what we do with our lives, the path we choose, that is all up to us. Yiras Shomayim – what is important to us. Who we look up to, what are our priorities, that’s in our hands.

Re’eh – See. Moshe is telling us, look at me, I had my share of difficulties. I stuttered, I grew up in the house of Pharoah. I had to escape to Midyan. I faced a nation that many-a-time stood up against me. Yet, I became Moshe Rabbeinu. Moshe the leader, the teacher. Moshe who took the nation out of Egypt. Moshe who led the people through the desert. Moshe who was able to speak to HaShem and deliver the Torah.

We can ask, how are we to become a Moshe. After all, the Torah tells us, Lo kom k’Moshe od, there was only one Moshe. The answer is, we don’t have to. We only have to live up to our potential. To make the most of our lives.

No two of us are created exactly the same. Each of us has our own talents, our own capabilities and even our own limitations. But each of us has our unique mission on this world, and it is up to us to use the tools given to us by HaShem to accomplish what we were put on this world to achieve.

Hayom – Today. Moshe’s mission given with love to his people. Given with love for future generations. Hayom – for today and every day. Hayom – to choose a life of bracha, bringing blessings to ourselves and the world around us.

Shabbat Shalom!

Chaya Sora

Chaya Sora can be reached at [email protected]

This article was written L’zecher Nishmas /In Memory Of HaRav Meshulem ben HaRav Osher Anshil HaLevi, zt”l and Rebbetzin Esther bas HaRav Avraham HaLevi, zt”l