D’varim 9:18 Rashi says that Hashem forgave the Jews for the sin of the golden calf on Yom Kipper. On this Hashem said “I will forgive them as you said.” So it would seem that he was angry and upset at them until then. Then Rashi says, that Hashem was happy with them from the going up to receive the Torah for the second time, which started on Elul, that only the middle 40 days was Hashem angry. So was he or was he not angry from Elul to Yom kipper?

Another question we may ask, we see a contradiction in how Hashem deals with the sins of the Jews. The Gemarah in Bava Kama 50a tells us of the great punishment of someone who says that Hashem looks the other way by sins. Yet Bilaam, as explained by Rashi 23:21, that Hashem is not so particular to look at the sins of the Jews?

The Gemarah in Brachos 20a says the Malachim asked Hashem, you said that you don’t show favoritism in judgement, yet, in Birchas Kohanim we say that he will show favor to the Jews. Hashem answered, what can I do, I said that they should say Birchas Hamazon when they are full, and they are stringent on themselves to Bench even on a Kazayis.

The Gemarah in Menachos says,in the beginning you could eat a Kazayos of Lechem hapanimand would be full. We see that really a Kazayos can fill someones, it’s only because of sin is that one needs more to satisfy himself. This is why they were stringent to Bench on a Kazayos, since that should have filled them up, but it was their fault it didn’t. It was their sins that caused it. This is the repentance that causes Hashem to favor them in judgement.

Hashem doesn’t look the other way when he judges subjects, but for his friends he does. You must earn to be his friend, but by doing T’shuva, which means returning to him, even if your past sins alienated yourself from Him, you can now start a new relationship with him. When you build the new relationship, then he’ll protect you from punishment. Even Menasha, who was one of the worst people in history, when he did T’shuvah, the Gemarah in Sanhedrin 103a says that Hashem “smuggled him through a tunnel” to accept his T’shuvah and to save him from judgement.

This is meant that Hashem only forgave at Yom Kipper, but Elul was the time Hashem was willing to try the relationship over. Until then, Hashem was upset and wasn’t willing to even try the relationship. Now by Elul, he was willing to begin the relationship, but it took until Yom kipper to improve the relationship to a point that Hashem forgave and protected them from punishment (destruction.)

This is why the Rabbis explain that Elul stands for Ani L’dodi V’dodi Li (I’m to my beloved (Hashem) and my beloved is to me.) Since this is the purpose of Elul, to start to improve your relationship with Hashem. (To introspect what you’re doing wrong that separates yourself from him) So when Yom Kipper comes, you’ll returned to him and be friends with him so for him to protect you from punishment.

Regarding the teshuvah we do during the month of Elul in preparation of Rosh HaShana, I read once that the Kotzker Rebbe (Menachem Mendl of Kotzk, 1787-1859) asked his houseguests the following question: "Where does Hashem reside?"

The guests responded, "Of course, the whole universe is filled with Hashem's glory."

The Rabbi of Kotzk corrected them, "Hashem dwells wherever Hashem is allowed to enter!" (cited in Leket, From the Treasure House of Hassidism by Martin Buber)

In other words, the Kotzker Rebbe taught that Hashem fills the entire world under normal conditions and is absent only when we block Hashem out of our lives.

How do we block out Hashem? Says the Kotzker Rebbe, the most effective way to block Hashem from our life is by commiting sins.

I think this is closely connected to the quote from Mesillas Yesharim Rabbi Mitterhoff posted 23 Dec 2004 9:48 PM, "The Path of the Just in the particulars of cleanliness explains: Sin dulls a man's heart in the sense that it removes from him true understanding and the spirit of wisdom that Hashem grants to his pious one's. In other words, sin will actually cloud the way you think."

quote:

Sin dulls a man's heart in the sense that it removes from him true understanding and the spirit of wisdom that Hashem grants to his pious one's. In other words, sin will actually cloud the way you think."

This reminds me of this weeks Parasha, Nitzavim, how it says that when we return and keep mitzvot, G-d will eventually circumcize our hearts, and 30:11-14 says:

quote:

"11. For this commandment which I command you this day, is not concealed from you, nor is it far away.
12. It is not in heaven, that you should say, "Who will go up to heaven for us and fetch it for us, to tell [it] to us, so that we can fulfill it?"
13. Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, "Who will cross to the other side of the sea for us and fetch it for us, to tell [it] to us, so that we can fulfill it?"
14. Rather,[this] thing is very close to you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can fulfill it.

(The Judaica Press Complete Tanach, from Chabad.org )

Not only are we commanded - the command isn't impossible to fullfill. I love this passage. It gives me hope of 'getting it.'

D