Rabbi Roodyn

Day 6-7

לְךָ אָמַר לִבִּי בַּקְּשׁוּ פָנָי אֶת פָּנֶיךָ ה’ אֲבַקֵּשׁ:

For You, my heart says, “Seek My presence.” Your presence, Hashem, I will seek.

David Hamelech asks Hashem to listen to his heartfelt prayer and rescue him from his enemies, but before he does so he gives an important caveat.

He says, whilst it’s that I am asking for salvation from all those who seek to harm me, my heart’s desire is something far greater than that, and this is my primary request, to seek out the presence of Hashem.

The Malbim explains that in this pasuk David is expressing his deepest desires, to understand, appreciate and be attached to Hashem.

The days of Elul are known as yemei haratzon, days of desire. They are days of getting in touch with what are really looking for in life.

Of course we all need to have our physical needs taken care of, by we also know that material acquisitions alone do not bring lasting happiness.

The Chassidic masters talk about Elul as being the time when the King is in the field, when He is readily available to all who seek Him.

The gemara itself says that during the Ten days between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, He is as close as can be.

Rabbi Nachman of Breslov comments on the Kedusha Shabbat Morning, we say kvodo malei olam, Hashem’s glory fills the world, yet we then ask ayeh makom kevodo, where is the place of His glory. If Hashem’s glory fills the world, why are we asking where the place of His glory is? He answers by saying that actually ayeh is makom kevodo. That when a Jew genuinely seeks Hashem, that itself is the place of His glory.

Our job is to reach out to His outstretched hand and now is the time to ask Hashem to give us the wisdom and understanding to be able to do so.

Thank you for enabling me to share these thoughts this week, I hope that you have found it as meaningful as I have.

Wishing you and yours a Shabbat Shalom