We stand in Chodesh Elul.
Our avoda is to prepare ourselves for the coming year.
It all depends on honesty.
Can we view ourselves honestly, assessing our strong and weak points? Can we determine which traits need to be strengthened and which disciplined? Can we plan realistically to accomplish those goals? Will we actually try to carry it out?
This week’s Parsha contains a passage which has always fascinated me: “When you besiege a city … do not destroy its (fruit) trees by swinging an axe against them….”
What other nation in the midst of war thinks about fruit trees! Sefer ha Chinuch (Mitzvah 529) explains that the underlying purpose is to train ourselves to appreciate and protect that which is good so that we will not destroy Hashem’s world. This is related to the concept of “baal tashchis,” not destroying. (Artscroll Sefer HaChinuch)
How do we bring good into this world and protect it? What do fruit trees teach us?
“The heavens declare the glory of G-d and the expanse of the sky tells of His handiwork… There is no speech and there are no words; their sound is unheard.” (Tehillim 19) Sometimes the glory of Hashem does not need words. A fruit tree is silent, but it brings beauty and nourishment to the world.
In this vein, I would like to point out two tefillos without which the new year cannot begin, namely Hataras Nedarim and Kol Nidre. We would do well to concentrate intensely on the meaning of these two holy prayers.
By legislating these two tefillos, I believe our Sages are telling us that we must guard with utmost care every word which emanates from our mouths. The world is filled with words, the vast majority of which are empty, and an uncountable number are actually evil, directed at other individuals or even nations.
“Shimon (ben Gamliel) says: all my days I have been raised among the Sages and I found nothing better for oneself then silence … and one who talks excessively brings on sin.” (Avos 1:17)
My friends: I want to ask: are we going to try to monitor every word we say this year?
What happens if our lives depend on it?
The Chofetz Chaim says that, “if [silence was preferable] in the times of Reb Shimon [ben Gamliel] … what can we [in our generation] do, whose thoughts and speech from our youth center around only matters of emptiness and foolishness?” (Shmiras Halashon, Artscroll/Mesorah)
How can we be careful enough!
“When I become a chosson, you will be the first to know!” Do you mean that?
“I’ll get back to you tomorrow!” Will you?
“It’s not loshon hara, but ….” These words usually lead to Gehennom.
It is a good idea to think of Yom ha Din before speaking. How will my words be judged by the Heavenly Tribunal? Is this easy? No! That is why the Chofetz Chaim says that the trait of silence is a “craft” upon which one must work throughout one’s life. (Shmiras ha Loshon, Shaar Hatevunah Ch. 2)
By legislating that the year begins with Hataras Nedarim and Kol Nidre, I believe that Chazal are telling us that the foundation of blessing is that every word should be emes. Just as the world was created through Ten Utterances, so our year has to be founded on words of truth: not lies, not exaggeration and not destruction.
If you want a powerful punch before Yom Kippur, look at Tefillah Zakkah. I for one cannot fathom the greatness of Rav Avraham Danzig, the tzaddik who wrote this tefillah. Please listen to his words: “[Hashem], You created me with a mouth … Through the power of speech, You differentiated man from animal, but I have not even been like an animal, for I have contaminated my mouth with obscenities, gossip, lies, derision, talebearing, bickering, shaming people, cursing … glorifying myself at another’s expense, business discussions on Shabbos … and oaths and vows!”
May Hashem help us to be worthy of a good and blessed year!
GLOSSARY
Chazal: Rabbis of the Mishna and Gemara
Chodesh Elul: the Jewish month before Rosh Hashanah, which begins this week
Emes: truth
Gehennom: hell
Loshon hara: evil speech
Parsha: Torah portion
Tefillos: prayers
