By the Grace of G-dMotzoei Shabbos-KodeshSedra: Tovo1, Chai2 Elul3, 5750Brooklyn, N.Y.

Greeting and Blessing:

It is customary to begin with a blessing⁴—and in these days of the month of Elul, especially coming from the auspicious day⁵ of Chai Elul, birthday⁶ of the two great luminaries,⁷ the Baal Shem Tov⁸ (in the year 5458 ⁹נח”ת,) and the Alter Rebbe, author of the Tanya and (Rav’s) Shulchan Aruch¹⁰ (in the year 5505)¹¹—

It is certainly a propitious time and Jewish custom¹² to extend¹³ to each and everyone in the midst of Klal Yisroel the traditional blessing for a good sweet year, materially and spiritually;¹⁴

Particularly in view of the well-known¹⁵ special connection between Chai Elul and Rosh Hashanah in that, while the entire month of Elul is a time of preparation¹⁶ for the New Year, the last twelve days of the month of Elul, corresponding to the twelve days of the month of the outgoing year, have a distinct significance in that each of these days is connected with, and represents, a month of the outgoing year. Thus, the first¹⁷ of these twelve days, Chai Elul, corresponding to the month of Tishrei,¹⁸ links the Rosh Hashanah of the current year with Rosh Hashanah of the incoming year.

And inasmuch as our Torah, Toras Chaim¹⁹ “instruction in life,” repeatedly emphasizes that the essential thing is the deed,²⁰ it follows that, however important and necessary is one’s introspective self-appraisal, the essential end-purpose of such honest self-appraisal²¹ is its actual impact on the individual’s way of the everyday life, in terms of concrete deeds, namely, the fulfillment of Mitzvos with hiddur (excellence) and joy,²² with ever more excellence and joy, in all days of the new year—may it bring goodness and blessing to all of us and to all our people Israel.

* * *

Apropos of preparedness for the new year, it is well to reflect on the dual contents of every year: There is the general significance common to each and all incoming years; and there is the special significance²³ connected with certain specific features of a particular year, whereby the year differs from other years.

One such noteworthy feature of the incoming new year (5751) is that the two days of Rosh Hashanah occur on the 5th and 6th days of the week (Thursday and Friday, erev Shabbos) leading directly into the holy Shabbos, thus emphasizing and affirming the mutual character of Rosh Hashanah and Shabbos.

The Rosh-Hashanah days—the Awe-inspiring Days²⁴—fill every Jewish heart with a holy trepidation that permeates one’s whole being. The elevated perception of holiness is experienced not merely during many hours highlighted by the preparation and performance of the Day’s Specific Mitzvah, namely, the sounding of the Shofar;²⁵ or the special prayers and supplications of Rosh Hashanah, and the like; but it is a continuous experience throughout the entire duration of the two-day period of Rosh Hashanah that permeates a Jew with the holy Rosh-Hashanah spirit.

And this inspiration finds expression in the conduct of every Jew, man, woman, and child—in addition to the general tendency to be more circumspect in behavior, what with spending hours in Shul,²⁶ abstaining from “unnecessary talk,” utilizing every available minute in saying T’hillim,²⁷ and the like—to the extent that even the meals of Rosh Hashanah, which have been referred to in terms of “eat sumptuous foods and drink sweet beverages,”²⁸ are affected by the influence of the Rosh Hashanah spirit of holiness²⁹ (as stated in the conclusion of the verse), “for this Day is holy unto HaShem.”

Similar to it is the holiness of Shabbos: “You shall keep the Shabbos,³⁰ because it is holy.” The G-dly holiness of Shabbos pervades every Jew, through and through,³¹ so that one feels different and inspired throughout the twenty four hours of Shabbos in all one’s activities.³²

* * *

There is a well-known principle in our holy Torah: “What is repeated three times acquires the force of chazakah (permanence).”³³ The term is derived from the word chozek, strength, and carries an assured presumption that having occurred three times, it will take hold and continue the same way.

If this principle applies in regard to non-obligatory matters, it is certainly true in regard to matters of holiness that already have the quality of everlasting Torah endurance, where each action has a lasting and perpetual impact.³⁴

How much more so in the case of Rosh Hashanah which is designated, literally, the Head (Rosh)³⁵ of the year, not just “beginning” of the year. This means that in addition to being the beginning of the year it is (also, and essentially) the “head of the year.”³⁶ Just as the head directs all the organs of the body, and it is only in this way that each organ carries out its purpose in the fullest measure, also as an organ per se—so Rosh Hashanah directs and animates each and every day of the year in all particulars of the daily life—

Hence it is understandable that since there is a chazakah in the state of holiness mentioned above, it exercises a very strong influence on the entire year, so that all one’s activities, in each and all days of the year, are carried out under the strong influence of the sublime holiness of the first three days of the year.

* * *

May HaShem grant that everyone of us, in the midst of Klal Yisroel, should firmly resolve and act in accordance with the perceptions outlined above, and in a manner indicated at the head of this week’s Sedra (now starting): “You are standing firmly³⁷ (nitzovim)³⁸ this day before HaShem, your G-d....” in your firm commitment;—

And, herein too, in a manner consistent with the beginning of the adjunct Sedra (as both of them are read together this year): Vayeilech—going forward and higher, from strength to strength.³⁹

Indeed, this resolve in all its aspects will bring about an ever growing measure of HaShem’s blessings in general, and the Rosh-Hashanah blessing in particular: To be inscribed and sealed⁴⁰ for a good and sweet year, both materially and spiritually.

And more especially—the blessing “for which we hope every day and all day”⁴¹—the true and complete Geulo⁴² through Moshiach Tzidkeinu, of whom G-d says, “I have found My servant David,”⁴³ very soon in our own days.

With esteem and blessing for a Ksivo vachasimo toivo and for a good and sweet year

/Signed: Menachem Schneerson/