The Business of Elul
By Rabbi Shimon Raichik
Elul is a month of cheshbon and teshuva. Elul is also a month when Hashem’s 13 Attributes of Mercy are revealed. This revelation helps to make a proper cheshbon and do teshuva in Elul. The Alter Rebbe analogizes this to a King who is in the field, available to all as they are before he goes to his palace on Rosh Hashana. In Elul the people go out to the field to see the King.
The Alter Rebbe asks why there is a revelation of the 13 Attributes of Mercy on regular weekdays in Elul. The only other time there is such a revelation is on Yom Tov in general and on Yom Kippur in particular.
Also, which people are usually in the field? It’s usually the laborers, those involved in the mundane, the routine work of this world. What about people whose lives are dedicated to kodesh? If they learn Torah they aren’t in the field; they are in the city where the King’s palace is located. Why should they leave their place, which is close to the palace and go out into the field to greet the King? Wouldn’t it be better to wait to see Him when he goes to his palace?
The Rebbe answers these questions by first providing a novel insight into the ethical requirement of being honest in business, “maasah u’matan b’emunah”. Chazal explain that the first question a neshama is asked when it goes before the heavenly court he is if he was honest in business, maasah u’matan b’emunah. There are other questions that he is asked as well, such as if he set aside time for Torah study.
Why then does the business question come first? Isn’t Torah study the essential goal while making a parnassa is just a means to that end?
The Rebbe answers with a different reason for the statement of Chazal “maasah u’matan b’emunah”. He translates it: Did you conduct your business with emunah in Hashem? Did you recognize that all of our efforts are a vessel and that the blessing of parnassa comes Hashem?
If all that Hashem wanted was that we should study the Torah and do mitzvos then why didn’t He make sure to give us everything we need so we shouldn’t be bothered or distracted by having to make a living? Hashem wanted us to learn the Torah and do mitzvos while facing all the regular challenges of making a livelihood. This is how we make this world a dwelling place for Hashem. On the surface the Jewish people are just like everyone else. We need to provide food and sustenance to our families just like everyone else. On the other hand we realize and recognize that any and everything we have is from Hashem and it is in order to serve Him.
This is the message of the King being in the field in the month of Elul. Elul teaches us to crown Hashem as King over the world in general and our lives in particular. This is the cheshbon that we make in Elul. What have we done to make the world and our lives a dwelling place for Hashem? For this reason everyone must go to the field to greet the King because this is our ultimate purpose.
One of the acronyms for the month of Elul teaches that Elul is also similar to a city of refuge from the outside world (אנה לידו ושמתי לך). It is a month that we set aside time to learn Torah in general and Chassidus in particular. Elul is part of the 40 day period that Moshe Rabbenu was on Har Sinai and received the second Luchos. Setting aside time to learn Torah in the midst of our busy schedules helps us feel that the King is with us during our daily routines.
Resolutions in Elul to add in learning Torah and Chassidus throughout the year will help us to fulfill our purpose in making this world a dwelling place for Hashem. The purpose of creation will be fulfilled and Hashem will be crowned as King over all creation. Everyone will realize the sovereignty of Hashem. This will revealed with the coming of Moshiach and the sounding of the shofar of Moshiach.