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Elul 3 Many reasons are given why we do not sanctify the month of Tishrei as we do every Jewish month. Here are some. The first month, Hashem himself sanctifies, giving us the wherewithal to do the other eleven. The purpose of sanctifying the month is to bring the special quality of Shabbos into the coming month. However, Rosh Hashanah, when the world was created, no Shabbos preceded it. The month was totally new and did not carry anything from the past with it. So too the new year which we begin should not carry with it the burdens of the past. Rather, we should start afresh with hope for the future. "from your wood choppers until your water drawers" R' Moshe Moseson was an extremely wealthy precious stones merchant, a follower of R' Shalom Beer of Lubavitch. In conversation the discussion turned to the simple unlearned but committed Jews whom the Rebbe praised greatly. Asked R' Moshe, "Why do you make such a fuss over them?" The Rebbe answered, "I see many worthy attributes among them." R' Moshe retorted, "I see nothing in them." A few minutes later the Rebbe turned to him and asked if he had any diamonds with him which he could see. R' Moshe gladly agreed to the Rebbe's request and began to point out the qualities of one diamond relative to the other. Turning to him the Rebbe said, "I see nothing in them." Responded R' Moshe, To see these fine qualities in the diamonds one must be an expert." Replied the Rebbe, "In appreciating Jews, one must also be an expert." "To enter you into the covenant of G-d your Lord... which he is making with you today." Why was it necessary to make a covenant now as the Bnei Yisroel were entering in addition to the covenant enter into at Sinai? Explains the author of the Tanya, R' Shneur Zalmen of Liadi. A covenant between friends is not for the present, after all they are friends. Rather it is for the future, when the friendship and camaraderie may wane. During the lifetime of Moshe, when the Jewish people were in the desert they lived a life based on miraculous events Now when the Jewish people were entering into the Land of Israel they would begin living a mundane practical life with need to farm and for physical labour. For this new situation comes a new covenant, even involved in the material world, one's love and commitment to G-d would not abate. R' Yoseph Shlomo of Kandia would say: Before I teach others what I know, I must teach myself what I don't know. R' Nasan Zvi of Sloboka would say: The Torah is not too small for the greatest of the great, nor to great for the smallest of the small. |
