Are you alive in Elul?
Today's date, the18th (יח) of Elul, is customarily pronounced "Chai Elul, since the numerals for 18 in Hebrew are the same letters of the word "alive -- חי."
Consequently, "Chai Elul" means both the 18th of Elul and the "Alive Elul."
Today is Alive Elul. Are you Alive in Elul?
Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi (whose birthday was on this day in 1745) wrote that Elul is the month in which the "King is in the Field." G-d Almighty is with us in our mundane routines, on His way to His coronation in the King's Palace that will occur at the end of this month, on Rosh Hashana, the 1st of Tishrei. At that time, we will all be in shul, in G-d's Palace, as it were, and will be overwhelmed by the awe of G-d's sovereignty and proclaim Him king. But before we arrive at that awe-inspiring coronation, here we are in the month of Elul, in our mundane lives out in the "field," so to say.
Are we aware of the fact that the King is here with us RIGHT NOW, in every mundane part of our day? Are we taking advantage of the fact that the King is interested in hearing from us, smiling to us, embracing us?
That's what Elul is all about, but today is the final stretch in Elul, the last 12 days before the Coronation. On today's auspicious date, we have 12 more days, one day per month, to make amends with the King, to correct what went wrong this past year.
On today's date, Chai Elul, we are empowered with the ability to imbue life and vivacity into our service of G-d in the month of Elul, into our intimate relationship with the King at this awesome time, when He's right here in the field with us, on our own turf, so to say.
Today, on "Alive Elul," we must ask ourselves:
Am I truly alive?
Am I living in the true reality, fully aware of the King here with me in the Field?
Am I living a life of meaning, courage, fortitude, personal responsibility, devotion, and freedom?
Or am I mired to a routine, the system to which I've voluntarily enslaved myself?
Do I make informed decisions? Or do I succumb to the status quo, just because?
Am I alive with purpose, faith, trust in G-d, joy, and commitment to standing up for the truth?
Am I alive with Torah, immersed in the Word of the Living G-d?
Let's start living.
Happy Chai Elul.
Happy Chai Elul to you and your precious family! Thank you for your many inspirational messages and support over the last couple of years. You are a great gift to all of us who seek, as you say, to be truly immersed in the World of the Living G-d. May we merit the arrival of the Moshiach in our days and the fullfillment of Hashem's purpose for us here on Earth.