Which song ranks highest in the kindergartens during Elul? I would venture to say: “Ani l’dodi v’dodi li, I love Hashem and Hashem loves me!” We all know that the first letter of each word in this pasuk spells out Elul, but do we ever think about how the pasuk itself connects to the spirit of these days? The High Holidays are referred to as “Days of Awe.”
On Rosh Hashanah we pass in front of the Master of the Universe just as sheep go past their shepherd, one by one. Nothing is hidden from Him, and He decides what will happen to us in the coming year. Terrifying. Wouldn’t it have been more appropriate to symbolize the days of Elul with a pasuk that talks about fearing Hashem?
We find a similar difficulty regarding the blessings of Ahavah Rabbah and Ahavas Olam, which we say before Kriyas Shema. When we say Shema, we perform the mitzvah of kabalas ol malchus Shamayim, accepting upon ourselves the rule of Hashem. So why did Chazal preface it with these brachos which describe Hashem’s great love for us? These blessings seem to be the opposite of kabalas malchus!
And finally, Chazal tell us that Shir Hashirim is “Kodesh Kedashim” the Holiest of Holies. Rashi (in the beginning of Shir Hashirim) explains that’s because it is entirely about yiras Shamayim and kabalas ol Malchuso – Fear of Heaven and accepting His Rule. Once again, we are faced with the same question: What does this megillah, which describes the great love between us and Hashem, have to do with accepting His rule?
King or Dictator?
In Tanach, we find two different terms to describe a king: melech and moshel. The Vilna Gaon explains that a melech is one who rules with the consent of his nation. A moshel, though, is a dictator – one who rules against the people’s will. This is why we say (Tehillim 22:29) “Ki l’Hashem hamelucha, umoshel bagoyim – For to Hashem belongs the Kingship and He rules the nation.” We accept Hashem’s rule willingly: therefore, Hashem is referred to as melech, but regarding the nations of the world, who presently detest His regime, Hashem is called moshel.
Chazal tell us “Ein melech b’lo am,” a king without a nation is not a king. The entire essence of a king is that he is accepted by the nation, and they want him to lead and unite them. However, regarding Hashem it is not that way. In davening we say, “Adon olam asher malach, b’terem kol yetzir nivra – Hashem is the Master of the World, Who ruled even before the world was created.” Hashem in His very essence is the King, and does not need any outside factors to give Him power as a human king does. Nevertheless, “le’eis na’asah b’cheftzo kol, azai melech shemo nikra – at the time when His Will created all things, then as ‘King’ His name was proclaimed.” Once the human being was created there was someone who could proclaim Him as melech. In other words, whether or not we crown Hashem as our King, He is the King. It is our job to accept His Rule upon ourselves, as we say in Ma’ariv: “Umalchuso b’eratzon kiblu aleihem – they willingly accepted His rule upon themselves.” This is our job – not only to accept Him as our King, but also to proclaim it to the world, as we said in Adon Olam, “as King, His name was proclaimed.” Living as an exalted nation and keeping His commandments shows the world that Hashem is the Master of the Universe.
This is why the preface to Shema is the blessing of Ahava Rabbah. The prerequisite to accepting His rule willingly is to realize that Hashem loves us dearly. He chose our forefathers as His nation and chooses us as well. Once we accept that, we will proclaim “Shema Yisroel, Hashem Elokeinu, Hashem Echod!” This acceptance is so strong that we are willing to be thrown into blazing fires out of our great love for Hashem. And then we immediately continue and say Baruch sheim kavod malchuso lolam va’ed – Blessed is the name of His Glorious Kingdom for ever and ever!” Not only do we accept You as our King, it is our greatest desire that the name of Your Kingdom be spread throughout the entire universe. This is what we pray for repeatedly on Rosh Hashanah – that every part of the world should realize that You are truly the King.
Now we understand how Shir Hashirim is all about accepting Hashem’s rule. The immediate result of realizing how much Hashem loves us is that we accept His rule upon ourselves. But at the same time we do not get too comfortable, because by coming close to Him we become aware of how great Hashem is, and thus we jump back in fear. This explains the words of Rashi that it is a megillah about yiras Shamayim. Even with our great closeness to Hashem, we must fear Him and keep His Torah and mitzvos meticulously for, after all, He is the King.
Shabbos – a Day of Love
This, in truth, is what happens every Shabbos. There is an age-old custom to recite Shir Hashirim each Erev Shabbos. This is because on Shabbos we can feel Hashem’s love the same way a husband and wife feel each other’s love. When Yom Tov falls out on Shabbos, we include in our tefillos the thought that Hashem gave us this day with love. This means that there is a certain revelation of Hashem’s love to us which is seen more on Shabbos than at all other times. Similarly, we say in the Shemoneh Esreh of Mincha on Shabbos that Hashem gave us a day of “menuchas ahava –a rest of love.”
But on the other hand, on Shabbos we have many restrictions. That is because one who involves himself with mundane worldly pursuits during a time of such closeness to Hashem shows that he is not interested in that intimacy. This can be compared to a chosson or kallah who, upon entering the yichud room, takes out his or her phone and starts texting a friend! Thus, one who transgresses Shabbos is punished severely, for he has disgraced his intimate relationship with Hashem.
The acronym for Elul is specifically in the pasuk that expresses our loving relationship with Hashem because this is what we must instill in ourselves during these days. During the week we are busy with all sorts of jobs and responsibilities, and it is a little harder to focus. But on Shabbos, with a little effort, we can feel Hashem’s love for us. If we think about our families, homes, and all the other kindnesses that Hashem bestows upon us constantly, we will be overcome with such love for Him that it will be so much easier to take that first step of ani l’Dodi. Then we will merit Hashem’s reciprocation, Dodi li. He will take us in His Hands and lift us up so that we will be able to proclaim on Rosh Hashanah that He is the true master of the Universe, and merit to a K’siva V’chasimah Tovah!
