THE KING IS IN THE FIELD

(Today's Torah message in honor of the birth of Baby Girl Levin and the birthday of Mushka. May they be a source of pride to their parents and to all of Israel.)

Tomorrow, Thursday and Friday is Rosh Chodesh Elul, the beginning of the Hebrew month of Elul.

In Elul we prepare for the upcoming High Holidays by blowing the shofar each morning, having our mezuzot and tefilin checked to make sure they are still fit, being more careful about keeping kosher and saying special selichot, penitential prayers.

Why do we do all of this in the month of Elul? Can't it wait until we're closer to Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur?

This can be answered by means of a parable of the "King in the Field", as told by Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, the founder of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement:

"Once each year, a very mighty king leaves his palace, his guards, his finery, and goes out in the field to meet with his subjects. Then everyone who so wishes may come out to greet the king, and the king receives everyone graciously and shows a friendly face to everyone. At that time, they do not need to wait in long lines or go through security checks. They can speak with him without hesitation. When the king returns to his palace, his subjects will once again have to go through all kinds of protocol to meet with him. So, of course, his subjects make the most of the opportunity.

"During the month of Elul, G-d is "in the field." G-d makes His countenance to shine on you, which refers to the emanation of the Thirteen Attributes. We don't need to go through all kinds of bureaucracy to reach Him. We need only come out to meet Him, as it were, with a humble heart, and He will listen to us. He will accept our repentance and consider our requests most carefully.

The king will soon be in the field. Let's make sure not to miss this opportunity."

And may we imminently merit the era when G-d will continuously be "in the field" the Messianic Era.