Although most Israelis would have no idea what I am talking about, most Americans consider Rosh Chodesh Elul to be the day after Labor Day, regardless of the Jewish Calendar. Before Labor Day we are too busy with the Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summer to take Elul seriously.
No matter that the Rambam writes that the sound of the Shofar calls us to “Wake up sleepy ones, arise. Review your deeds, repent, remember your Creator. To those who forget the truth and engage all year in empty pursuits and matters that are ultimately worthless; think about your souls. Improve your ways and your deeds and abandon your sinful path (Teshuva 3:4). Summer is no time for such heavy thoughts.
However, for those paying attention, Hashem provided us with quite a wake-up call this year, as He often does. Twenty years ago, on the 23rd day of Elul we experienced September 11; a day that forever changed our perspective on our safety and security in the United States. This year, we had several wake-up calls.
First – the year and a half of Corona, which has impacted everyone’s life in ways great and small. It has changed our businesses, shuls, schools, families, and social contacts, let alone those who suffered personal tragedies. It has left us, or should have left us, with far less certainty about our ability to control our lives and circumstances, and far more humility about predicting the future. It certainly ought to be a wake-up call to Teshuva
Second – the tremendous political upheavals of this year, both in the USA and in Israel. We became fractured, divided, and subjected to more hatred than any of us can remember in recent decades – simply because of our political and personal views. We witnessed the fall of the mighty and their replacement by those of questionable competence who focus primarily on destroying the legacy of their predecessors.
And now, just before the Day of Judgment, the debacle in Afghanistan.
I will not go into an analysis here of the depth of the terrible damage wrought by the shameful mishandling of the withdrawal by the current administration. I will focus only on what this means to us as Jews standing before Rosh Hashana.
Many writers have described the incalculable damage that has been done to America’s credibility as a guarantor of her allies’ peace and security. Taiwan, South Korea, NATO – they have now seen how trustworthy America is when it ensures others that “Uncle Sam has your back”.
One can appreciate – on a whole new level – how important it was when former PM Netanyahu and his predecessors insisted that Israel cannot take foolish risks for peace and rely on the USA to guarantee peace if things go awry. Images of American friends falling off the airplanes to their deaths; of the American President (scandalously) blaming the Afghanistan army for not fighting for themselves; of him saying that chaos was inevitable and that he cannot guarantee the safety of thousands of Americans nor that of local Afghan allies, are chilling in the extreme. And it starkly reminds us how precarious our safety is in this world, particularly as Jews. The verse that we say every morning could not be more apt.
אַל תִּבְטְחוּ בִנְדִיבִים בְּבֶן אָדָם שֶׁאֵין לוֹ תְשׁוּעָה
Put not your trust in the great, in mortal man who cannot save.
(Tehillim 146:3)
Quite a wake-up call, indeed.
We approach Rosh Hashana – the day that we are to accept the sovereignty of our King, the Master of the Universe – with great trepidation. So many of its prayers jump out at us with special urgency. “He who crowns kings but retains the true kingship”. . . “On this day it will be determined which countries will face the (Taliban) sword, hunger, or prosperity” . . .” We approach You not with our (deficient) deeds, but with looking to your Mercy” . . .and so many more. We have been shown so clearly, if only we opened our eyes, how much we cannot rely on ourselves or other humans to solve the world’s problems. Oh, how desperately do we need His Grace!
How much must we join together to daven that the Almighty watch over Eretz Yisrael and protect those who defend it!
As the future looks ever more tenuous in the Diaspora, we must be so grateful for the gift of the State of Israel. Notwithstanding the many physical and spiritual problems there, how fortunate we are that –unlike those stuck in Afghanistan – we have a State of our own to run to in our hour of need. Surely it is time for those in the Hareidi world to stop focusing on the many problematic trees and to see the forest for what it is – a wonderful gift that Hashem has allowed us to have. How much must we join together to daven that the Almighty watch over Eretz Yisrael and protect those who defend it!
Medinat Yisrael is not to be taken for granted – not for those who do not live here, who confidently assure themselves that whenever they feel like they can be “Next Year in Jerusalem” – it is the first time in recent memory that Jews want to come and cannot because of Corona. For us who have the great good fortune to live in the Land, we look forward to the Shemitta year to remind us not to take it for granted. A year to internalize that it is the Almighty’s land - and not ours – and that we need His blessing to thrive in this refuge He has provided us in the midst of ever-growing threats.
May we have a most meaningful and heartfelt Rosh Hashana, and truly dedicate ourselves to serving the King of kings, who is looking to give us more than we could even imagine, if we would only turn to Him with all our hearts and minds.
PS - Although I am not sure how much I would recommend her work in general, Dolly Parton wrote words in her song "Hello God" that ought to give us some pause:
Hello, God?
If we're still on speakin' terms
Can You help me like before?
I have questioned Your existence
My resistance leaves me cold
Can you help me go the distance?
Hello?
This old world has gone to pieces
Can we fix it? Is there time?
Hate and violence just increases
We're so selfish, cruel, and blind
We fight and kill each other
In Your name defending You
Do You love some more than others?
We're so lost and confused
Hello, God?Are you out there?
Can you hear us?Are you listenin' anymore?
Hello, God?
If we're still on speakin' terms
Can You help us like before?
Oh, the free will You have given
We have made a mockery of
This is no way to be livin'
We're in great need of Your love
Hello, God?
Hello, God?
Can You grant us
Love enough to make amends?
Is there still a chance
That we could start again?
Hello, God?
We've learned our lesson
Dear God, don't let us go
More than ever
Hello?
We really need You
We can't make it without You
We beseech You
In the name of all that's true
Hello, God?
Please forgive us
For we know not what we do
Hello, God?
Give us one more chance
To prove ourselves to You
Hello, God?
