אֱלוּל תְּשַׁפ”ו: It’s Time to Pay Attention to the Soul

Our world has a lot going on within it, maybe in a way that feels at times like what the Torah calls “תֹהוּ וָבֹהוּ,” a wild and chaotic place that is lacking order, light, and  even direction.

Whether it be linked to the twenty-four hour news cycle illuminating the (unfortunately) never-ending politics of our day, the (unfortunate) never-ending reminders of the Anti-Semitism and Anti-Zionist comments, messages, etc. that continue to permeate its way through our society, or even linked to the everyday comings and goings associated with the work that happens day in and day out, there is a lot going on within our world.

In these moments, it can be hard to know which way to turn, who or what to follow, and even who to tune in and tune out.

Yet, at this moment, we find ourselves in the midst of the month of Elul. During this powerful month on the Jewish calendar, it is traditional to not only hear the cries of the Shofar every single morning (minus Shabbat!), but also to recite Psalm 27, the Psalm for the Season of Repentance.

When thinking about these actions, they are meant to bring awareness to the moment that we are in. However, these actions are not meant to make us pay more attention to the world around us, but rather, look inward to our souls. They are meant to help awaken what is within us that needs to be illuminated. From there, we, then, can go out into the world.

As Rambam, Maimonides, teaches, the Shofar (and more expansively, even the other actions of the season) sends a message that shouts, “…Arise from your slumber, you who are asleep; wake up from your deep sleep, you who are fast asleep; search your deeds, repent, and remember your Creator.” (https://www.ou.org/holidays/arise_from_your_slumber/). 

In other words, we have been asleep, and because we have been asleep, the “תֹהוּ וָבֹהוּ,” that has permeated itself in this world, has been able to pull us in multiple directions and has been able to continue to grow. As the Sages of the Machzor bring to life, we have been aware of time and not of ourselves (Machzor Lev Shalem, p. 118), and as such, our connection to nature and the world around us has been distant. As a result, we have not been listening to ourselves,  and we are doing without even thinking and noticing. What our souls are telling us is lost to our ears.

Rabbi Naomi Levy, in her book, Einstein and the Rabbi: Searching for the Soul, teaches that the challenge of being human is that we “have the power to choose what we want to listen to” (Levy, 2017, p. 8). Rabbi Levy continues in stating, “the body has its desires and the ego has its ambitions, and the world around us calls to us with its distractions, temptations, and promises” (Levy, 2017, p. 8). This is why it makes sense that we are going in multiple directions at once, and can feel at times, like there are no answers. It is not our souls pulling us, but rather our desires and strives.

On the other hand, though,  Rabbi Levy teaches, “the soul can’t force you to listen, but it never gives up trying…it never loses hope… All through your life your soul tugs at you…. we have become experts at ignoring the soul, our challenge now is to learn, listen and to be repetitive to its teachings” (Levy, 2017, p. 8-9). 

As we continue on the journey through the High Holiday Season and this month of Elul, there is a lot going on in the world. However, Jewish tradition teaches us that now is the time to look inward and pay attention to our souls, as it is our souls that will help guide the work, differences, etc. that we do and we make in our comings and in our goings.

As Rabbi Levy writes, “Our souls want to teach us about our strengths. It wants us to believe in our abilities and gifts… the soul wants us to uncomfortable enough to strive for more, to grow and to learn and to see what needs fixing in this beautiful world” (Levy, 2017, p. 10). 

Our Neshamas are yearning for us. The Kadosh Baruch Hu is yearning for relationship wth us (p. 10). That is why this Elul, it is time to take strives to pay less attention to the “תֹהוּ וָבֹהוּ,” that exists around us, and more time spent hearing our Neshamot,  our inner souls. As Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi teaches, the month of Elul is when the King is in the fields, and as a result, if we take the time to do the spiritual and “soul-searching” work of this season, we are becoming more apart of nature, and ultimately, more of who we are meant to be. 

May this month of Eul, through the rituals of the season, awaken us to be able to hear the calls of our Souls so that we can elicit the response, “Hineni, Here I Am,” and may this soul-searching and listening only continue to bring and inspire more blessings, joy, wonder and Simchah for us, the Jewish People, not only in Israel, but across the entire World.

Kein Yehi Ratzon!

Citations:

Levy, N. (2017). Einstein and the rabbi: Searching for the soul. Flatiron Books. [1, 2, 3, 4]