The key to returning to Hashem is feeling His love, and that if we were only to experience some of Hashem’s love, we would surely find our way back to Him. For this reason, I felt particularly inspired to feature a song that portrays within its words the warmth and comfort that Hashem’s love provides.
The Yidden proclaimed, וַאֲנִי בְּחַסְדְּךָ בָטַחְתִּי יָגֵל לִבִּי בִּישׁוּעָתֶךָ – My enemies think that there is no one to save me, but I trust in Your infinite kindness, my heart will rejoice in Your salvation. אָשִׁירָה לְהַשֵּׁם כִּי גָמַל עָלָי – I will sing to Hashem because he has dealt kindly with me (Tehillim 13:6)!
Just like the Torah, teshuvah is a gift – a total act of chessed from the Ribono Shel Olam. And it is in these words that we are taught that it is something that Hashem guarantees is within our reach at all times.
“Mi shetarach b’Erev Shabbos yochal b’Shabbos – One who toils on Erev Shabbos will eat on Shabbos” (Avodah Zara 3a). Erev Shabbos: a special time of the week. Elul: a special month of the year. Combined, they enable us to open the door to our Beloved – to welcome in the Divine. The connection is closer than you think.
Moshe Rabbeinu wondered why the Jews had to suffer over a century of avodas perech, inhumane servitude, and near spiritual annihilation here in Mitzrayim – and to what end does a Jew find himself in any future golus for that matter.