As the Hebrew month of Elul unfolds, a familiar sense of anticipation fills the air, signalling a sacred time for introspection and preparation for the High Holy Days—Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. We recite a powerful line from our prayer book every year: “B’rosh Hashanah yikatevu uv’yom tzom Kippur yehatemun.” This means, “On Rosh Hashanah, it is written down in the Big Book, and on Yom Kippur, it is sealed by G-d.” I’ve known this rhythm all my life, but it wasn’t until this year that I began to grasp its profound significance.
This process took on new meaning for me after listening to Rabbi YY Jacobson’s lecture, “The Courage to Birth Yourself: The True Meaning of Judgment Day.” Rabbi Jacobson’s insights reveal a loving G-d who allows us to fulfill our potential—a concept I had only superficially understood until now. He explained, “When a loving G-d, who knows you completely and has the best possible vision for your life, gives you the chance to do the work required to fulfill your potential, this is a great gift!”¹ His understanding of the judgment process, grounded in G-d’s compassion for humanity, offered a perspective that felt both meaningful and insightful.
The day before, I attended a Yishai Rebo concert in Jerusalem, where his song “My Heart” (Halev Sheli) echoed the sentiments of Rabbi Jacobson’s teachings. The lyrics spoke of deep understanding and healing, echoing our struggles: “Only You (G-d) are able to understand how to reach my heart, the darkness of my pain, and only You can heal my heart.” This connection between the heart and the divine felt natural as if the universe was nudging me to pay attention.
As I committed to attending weekly Sabbath services this year, I began to see how the month of Elul prepares us for the transformative experience of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. It’s a journey that starts each summer after Tisha B’Av and continues until the last day of Sukkot, known as Simchat Torah. During this time, Jews gather to read the Book of Deuteronomy—Sefer Devarim—during the weekly Sabbath prayer service. This book, often called “Mishne Torah,” meaning “A Review of the Torah,” holds Moses’ heartfelt farewell to the people, imparting lessons that resonate just as strongly today.
Moses recounts the incredible journey of the People of Israel: their miraculous escape from slavery in Egypt, the reception of the Torah at Mount Sinai, and their forty years of wandering in the desert before entering the Land of Canaan, the territory we now know as the State of Israel. However, numerous laws and commandments are interwoven within this grand narrative, including seemingly mundane regulations, like the instruction to send away a mother bird before taking her eggs. I often wondered why these laws exist here.
Immanuel Shalev of Aleph Beta sheds light on this in an animated video, Is There Spiritual Guidance Within Our Legal System? The Hidden Meaning Behind the List of Laws in Deuteronomy. He explains that each law derives from one of the Ten Commandments in the Book of Exodus, reflecting the core values of our Jewish identity. For example, the requirement for two witnesses to convict someone of a crime reinforces the ninth commandment: “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” The Torah calls for a just legal system—“Justice, justice, shall you pursue.”²
Beyond mere rules, these commandments articulate moral values that demand empathy and sensitivity toward others, even in the smallest actions. The law regarding the mother bird reminds us to honour motherhood, as stated in the fifth commandment: “Honor your mother and your father.” Shalev wisely notes, “Any people that lose the capacity for empathy will deteriorate into a cursed existence.”
Though Moses never stepped foot in the Land of Israel, he provided us with these essential laws to guide our lives once we settled there. His teachings encompassed sustainable agriculture, care for the vulnerable, the widow, the orphan, the poor, and even laws of warfare, equipping the Jewish people with a moral compass through centuries of exile. This legacy allowed Jewish communities worldwide to thrive during centuries of exile from their promised land.
The dream of returning to Zion, the land of the Jews, is deeply embedded in our prophetic texts and was transformed into reality with the establishment of the State of Israel within our lifetime. This milestone, occurring just three short years after the horrors of World War II, allowed millions of Jews to return to their ancient homeland. From fewer than a million inhabitants in 1948, Israel has blossomed into a vibrant democracy with nearly ten million people today, known for its innovation and resilience.
The Jewish state has always sought peaceful coexistence rather than expansionism or expulsion. Today, approximately 20% of Israelis are non-Jews—Christians and Muslims who lived here long before the state was established and continue to live here as full-fledged citizens. If all the countries of the Middle East were to embrace this vision, the region could be transformed into a paradise of harmony. It is within our reach if certain nations abandon their culture of destruction and embrace the vision of “making love, not war.”
In every communal prayer service, Jews invoke peace for the world with the heartfelt plea: “May He who makes peace in the Heavens bring peace on Earth, and let us say Amen.” This prayer encapsulates our collective longing for a world where justice and peace prevail. When all nations recognize the importance of these values, we may finally glimpse the vision of harmonious coexistence—where “the lion will lie down with the lamb” (Isaiah 35:9).
“May it come speedily and in our time.” Amen.
Footnote:
- Rosh Hashanah Women’s Class: If Rosh Hashanah or YK Trigger You, Listen to This.” The Yeshiva, 1 Sept. 2011, https://www.theyeshiva.net/jewish/item/9447/rosh-hashanah-womens-class-if-rosh-hashanah-or-yk-trigger-you-listen-to-this.
- Shalev, Immanuel. “Is There Spiritual Guidance Within Our Legal System? The Hidden Meaning Behind the List of Laws in Deuteronomy.” Aleph Beta, 2024, https://alephbeta.org.