The snake is saying, "G-d supports all the
fallen, and straightens all the bent." (Psalms 145:14)
Rabbi Yaakov would say:This world is comparable to the
antechamber before the World to Come. Prepare yourself in the antechamber, so
that you may enter the banquet hall.
He would also say: A single moment of repentance and
good deeds in this world is greater than all of the World to Come. And a single
moment of bliss in the World to Come is greater than all of the present world.
Hod shebeMalchut (glory and gratefulness within the
context of kingship)
This week
marks Rosh Chodesh Elul. Elul’s main characteristic is teshuvah, repentance.
The Alter Rebbe explains that the King (G-d) spends most of the year inside his
palace, where it is more difficult to reach him. During the month of Elul, the
King goes out to the field to speak to His people and to listen to their pleas.
During this time, He greets everyone with a smiling countenance. In Elul, we
can have greater direct contact with G-d by increasing our Torah studies,
prayer and repentance, as well as good deeds.
During this
month, we have the opportunity to be extremely close to G-d. Through teshuvah
and asking for forgiveness, we can properly prepare ourselves for Rosh Hashanah.
Elul is represented by the tribe of Gad. Gad was a very powerful and courageous
tribe. Its name literally means "luck," and indicates that the Jewish
people are completely above luck and chance – everything depends on our teshuvah.[1]
How
appropriate then it is that the animal to sing this week in Perek Shirahis the
snake, who declares that G-d supports all the fallen, and straightens all bent.
(Psalm 145:14) The snake, from the story of Creation and beyond, has always
been associated with sin and the evil inclination. Its verse perfectly embodies
the spirit of teshuvah with which we begin the month of Elul.
The number
forty-seven is the gematria of the name Yoel (Joel).[2]
The Book of Joel contains many parallels to the month of Elul. Like several
other books of the prophets, the book speaks profoundly about the need for
repentance. Joel specifically refers to the need for teshuvah before the “great
day”of judgment. The book also describes the Jewish people’s closeness to G-d,
and makes many mentions to the sound of the shofar. During almost the entire
month of Elul, we blow the shofar every day after prayer as a preparation for
the Day of Judgment, Rosh Hashanah.
In Pirkei
Avot this week, Rabbi Yaakov states that this world is like an antechamber for
the World to Come; one must prepare oneself in the antechamber in order to
enter the banquet hall. He also states that one moment of repentance and good
deeds in this world is better than the entire life of the world to come.
Similarly, a single moment of pleasure in the World to Come is better than all
the life of this world. (IV: 16-17) This teaching is perfectly suitable for Rosh
Chodesh Elul, when the Jewish people begin the process of teshuvah. Similarly,
just as the purpose of this world is only to serve as an ante-room for the
World to Come, the month of Elul also serves as a preparation for Rosh Hashanah
and Yom Kippur.
This week,
the combination of sefirot results in hod shebemalchut, glory and gratefulness
within the context of kingship. It is time to bring our service of Hashem to
fruition in a tangible and real way.
A lesson in
self-improvement that we extract from the snake is that even if we fall to the
lowest possible levels, we can still repent and be forgiven and uplifted by
G-d.
No comments:
Post a Comment