Elul: cleaving to the Source

הרמז על אלול אני לדודי ודודי לי.

The hint regarding Elul: "I am to my Beloved and my Beloved is to me" (Shir HaShirim 6:3).

The initial letters of "Ani l'Dodi v'Dodi li" spell Elul. The Sefas Emes explores how this verse captures the avodah of the month.

כי הנה בנ"י צריכין להעלות ולתקן כל הברואים.

For behold, Bnei Yisrael must elevate and rectify all created beings.

Part of the mission of Bnei Yisrael throughout the year is to lift up and repair all of creation, drawing every created thing toward its holy purpose.

אכן מעלתן גבוה להתיחד אליו ית' כמ"ש בש"ק ביני ובין בנ"י אות היא כו'.

Yet their own level is higher — to be unified with Him, may He be blessed — as it is said regarding Shabbos Kodesh: "It is a sign between Me and Bnei Yisrael" (Shemos 31:17).

Beyond rectifying creation, Bnei Yisrael have a loftier station: a direct, exclusive bond of unity with Hashem, like the special "sign" of Shabbos that joins Him to His people alone.

השי"ת די לו בעולם בבנ"י להיות מעידין עליו.

For Hashem, it suffices in the world that Bnei Yisrael bear witness to Him.

As it were, Hashem's purpose in the world is fulfilled simply by Bnei Yisrael serving as His witnesses, testifying to His presence.

כמ"ש עם זו יצרתי לי וכ' אתם עדי.

As it is written: "This people I formed for Myself" (Yeshayahu 43:21), and it is written: "You are My witnesses" (Yeshayahu 43:10).

These verses establish that Bnei Yisrael were formed precisely to be Hashem's people and His witnesses in the world.

רק בנ"י מטוב לבן צריכין להטות כל הברואים אליו ית'.

Only that Bnei Yisrael, out of the goodness of their hearts, must incline all created beings toward Him, may He be blessed.

Though Hashem would be satisfied with their witness alone, Bnei Yisrael, from the generosity of their hearts, take on the further task of turning all of creation toward Hashem.

אבל בימי רצון הללו בסוף השנה צריכין להתדבק בשורש העליון.

But during these days of favor at the end of the year, they must cleave to the supernal Root.

In Elul, the eis ratzon (time of favor), the avodah shifts: instead of reaching outward to elevate creation, one must turn inward and cleave directly to the upper Source.

בשגם ע"י שכל השנה מתלכלכין בחטאים ע"י תערובות הרשעים בעולם.

Especially since, throughout the year, one becomes soiled by sins through the admixture of the wicked in the world.

The work of engaging with the world all year long inevitably exposes a person to the contaminating influence of the wicked and to sin.

צריכין לברוח ולהציל את נפשותינו כענין חייך קודמין.

One must flee and save one's own soul, in the manner of "your own life takes precedence."

In Elul one must, as it were, withdraw and rescue one's own neshamah first — following the principle that "your life comes first" — before resuming the work of elevating others.

וזהו הרמז ר"ה למעשר בהמה כי כל עניני עוה"ז וודאי יש בהם צורך גבוה.

And this is the hint in "Rosh Hashanah for the tithe of animals" — for all matters of this world certainly contain a higher need.

Maaser behemah (the animal tithe) reflects that every worldly thing has a "higher purpose," a portion that belongs to Heaven and must be separated out and elevated.

והאדם יש לו חלק בכל כדי לתקן הכל על ידו.

And a person has a portion in everything, in order that he should rectify it all through himself.

Each person is given a share in worldly matters so that he can be the agent through whom they are repaired and lifted up.

אבל בימים אלו צריכין להפריש ולהרחיק מכל עניני עוה"ז כפי היכולת לקיים אני לדודי.

But during these days one must separate and distance oneself from all matters of this world, as much as possible, in order to fulfill "I am to my Beloved."

In Elul the emphasis reverses: one separates as far as one can from worldly involvement so as to realize "Ani l'Dodi" — belonging wholly to Hashem.

ולזכור כי האדם נברא רק לעבודת הבורא ית'.

And to remember that a person was created solely for the avodah of the Creator, may He be blessed.

This separation reawakens the foundational truth that a person's entire purpose is the service of Hashem.

ובחודש אלול (הזה) מתקיים אני לדודי.

And in this month of Elul, "I am to my Beloved" is fulfilled.

Elul is the time when a person actively gives himself over to Hashem — "Ani l'Dodi," the first half of the verse.

וע"י כן מתקיים בחודש תשרי ודודי לי.

And through this, in the month of Tishrei, "and my Beloved is to me" is fulfilled.

Because a person draws near in Elul, Hashem responds in Tishrei — "v'Dodi li," the Beloved turning back toward the person.

שהוא השפעת חיים וקדושה על כל השנה:

Which is the bestowal of life and holiness for the entire year.

This reciprocal nearness in Tishrei is what draws down a year's worth of life and kedushah onto Bnei Yisrael.

Summary: Elul (whose name is hinted in "Ani l'Dodi v'Dodi li") inverts the year's usual avodah. All year Bnei Yisrael reach outward to elevate creation, but in the days of favor at year's end — when worldly engagement has left a residue of sin — they must withdraw, save their own souls, and cleave directly to the Source. By giving themselves wholly to Hashem in Elul ("Ani l'Dodi"), they merit His return to them in Tishrei ("v'Dodi li"), drawing down life and holiness for the whole year.