Parashat Shoftim/Chodesh Elul (Copy)

Rabbi’s Drosh

Mazel Tov to John, Judy and Yvonne who all turned 75 this week. The number 75 is significant in Judaism because it was the age that Avraham left his father’s house. Perhaps this was the starting point of the stereotype of Jewish kids being late to leave home!

Jokes aside there is an important lesson in this, that also connects to the month of Elul, which we begin this Friday.

Elul is the last month of the Jewish year as we lead into the High Holy Days, beginning with Rosh Hashanah. The word ”Rosh” in Hebrew literally means “head”. If Rosh Hashanah is the head of the year then it follows that Elul would be the feet!

If we think of Elul as the end - or feet - of the year, we may be tempted to write off this important month. We may say, “It’s too late! It wasn’t a great year. I didn’t do well this year, but next year will be different. I will just wait until next year“. This is not at all what Elul is all about.

Elul is like the Kippah on the Head of the year. A holy opportunity to connect with Hashem that sits even higher than the head - Rosh Hashanah.

This is why we begin blowing the shofar in the month of Elul. It is a wake-up call! It is never too late!

Avraham knew it was never too late to go forward, to start again, to make the most of an opportunity. That is why when, at 75 years old, he heard Hashem’s call, “Go for yourself to the place I will show you.“, he knew it was time to go forth and start a new journey. He left his father’s house, his birthplace, his homeland. Responding to this call was not just beneficial to Avraham. We still benefit from this call today and we can still hear this call in the blast of the shofar.

May we all be blessed to make the most of this powerful month of Elul.

Shabbat Shalom and Chodesh Tov,

Rabbi Friedler