The Hebrew month of Elul is upon us.
Growing up, my parents would always read to us an excerpt from the memoirs of the Previous Chabad Rebbe in which he vividly describes the onset of the month of Elul in the shtetl of Lubavitch.
"Though summer still lingered and the day was bright and sunny, there was a change in the air. One smelled already the Elul-scent; a teshuvah-wind was blowing. “Es bluzt ahn Elul vint”. Everyone grew more serious, more thoughtful…. All awaited the call of the shofar, the first blast that would announce the opening of the gates of the month of mercy.”*
(*As it is customary to blow the Shofar throughout the month of Elul.)
My mother wrote a beautiful poem based on the Rebbe’s description of Elul in Lubavitch. I hope it adds meaning to your “Avodah” during this holy month
TESHUVA WINDS
The stillness of night
Broken by the rooster’s crow
Rays of light peek over the horizon
The sleepy little town stirs
The month of Elul has arrived
Time is of the essence
Figures emerge, one by one
Through the still-dark streets
They walk, together
Alone, in introspective thought
The crisp, morning breeze-
Invigorating
For body and soul
Elul has come
עס בלאזט א תשובה ווינט...*
A pervasive sense of
Awe
Hangs in the morning air...
The shul fills
Draped in taleisim, they sway to and fro
Praying with tear-filled eyes
The shofar
It’s piercing cry
Shattering walls of nothingness
“Awaken from you slumber,” it calls
Hearts turn Heavenward
Teardrops fall
The teacher, the tailor
The baker; shoemaker
Pray slowly, with utter devotion
Each word
A pearl
A gem
Today, there is no rush
The tools, spools and books
Will wait
Elul has come
...עס בלאזט א תשובה ווינט
A pervasive sense of
Awe
Hangs in the air...
The pull towards materialism
Has faded
The soul cries out for nourishment
The power of repentance-
As accessible
As the oxygen they breathe
Sources of life -
Physical
Spiritual
The richer the dose
The greater its vitality
Today
The power, potential
For repentance
Is
Richer
Than
Yesterday
Elul has come
The choice lays
In their hands...
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Today, we do not live in the shtetl-
In Lubavitch of old
Will we choose life...?
For if we open our minds and hearts
We will feel
A wind blowing
Elul has come
...עס בלאזט א תשובה ווינט
It comes but once a year
It awaits us
We just need to breathe it’s air...
*A teshuva (repentance) wind is blowing
Based on Likutei Diburim as explained by the Rebbe