Newspaper Page Text
Torah thoughts
The king in the field
Adapted from the works of Rabbi Menachem M.
Sehnecrson, the Lubavitcher Rcbbe. by Rabbi
Yossi New, Chabad of Georgia
We are presently in the month of
Elul—a particularly auspicious
mark in the Jewish calendar. Walk
ing in the street it is sometimes dif
ficult to tell the difference between
this month and any other month of
the year—which is ample evidence
that we should not learn from the
street! On the contrary, we should
“illuminate” the street and demon
strate to its inhabitants a pattern of
life based on Torah, called Toras
Chaim—the instruction of life.
Torah inspires every moment of
our daily lives, and our existence in
every place.
Elul is the month when we must
take stock of the year which is
rapidly passing, for it is the last
month of the year. We must make
an accounting of how we have
lived during the past year including
also our words—and even our
thoughts.
In order to illustrate the differ
ence between Elul and the other
months of the year, the Alter Rebbe
provided us with a parable: Elul
represents the time when a king
leaves his palace and the city and
goes out into the fields. There ev
eryone can meet him, talk to him,
greet him and even confront him.
Anyone who wants to can approach
the king and can be sure that the
king will receive him with a pleas
ant countenance. This, then, is
also the opportunity to present the
king with any petition which lists
the individual’s desires and expec
tations from the king.
After the visit to the field, when
the king returns to his city and
palace, anyone who wants to can
follow him and accompany him.
However, as soon as he enters his
private chambers, gaining an audi
ence, talking to him and meeting
him become complicated and diffi
cult procedures; to do so involves
much preparation and red tape
which not everyone can overcome
completely. This emphasizes even
further the difference between Elul
and the other months.
The parable is, of course, perti
nent to us, and we can learn some
thing from every detail. For exam
ple, even if we feel as though we are
in a field—not only out of the
king’s palace but away from his
capital altogether; even if we are
away from any city with its sys
tem and its organization and we
are truly in a field doing lowly field
work; even if we are plowing and
sowing and reaping—activities
which discourage fancy clothes and
scrupulous grooming (the normal
preparations for meeting royal
ty)—the Almighty gives us the spe-
Quiz Bax
Rabbi Samuel J. Fox
Why is it customary to offer the
expression “L’Chaim” before
drinking some alcoholic beverage
while the listeners respond with the
greeting “L’Chaim Tovim UT Sha
lom’’ (to a good life and peace)?
Some commentaries claim that
alcoholic beverages may be a threat
to life, and thus the consumption
the drinker makes with a benedic
tion is hoped to be rather a good
sign of life.
Others claim that once upon a
time, wine was offered to a person
who was about to be executed for a
major crime he had committed. In
Need Money For College?
We Can Help!
Millions of dollars in college scholarships,
grants and loans go unused each year. Our
computerized service will locate from 5 to
25 sources for which you will be qualified to
apply.
Another plan available: Graduate/Profes
sional School Financial Aid Matching
Call Fred Davidow, 458-6772
Scholarship Search Services, Inc
2479 Old Orchard Court, N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30338
such a case, the drink would pre
pare him for death. To avoid any
such suspicion, the one who is
about to drink expresses the greet
ing “L’Chaim” (to life) to show
that he is not about to be executed.
The company who hears this
expression responds by saying they
hope the life he is looking forward
to will be a good one and peaceful
and not like some lives that are bad
and troublesome.
You’re just the type.
Donate Blood.
+ American
Red Cross
© The American National Red Cross 1981
Rabbi Schneerson
cial privilege, once each year, dur
ing the month of Elul, to meet Him
informally. We can meet the King
just as we are dressed and just as we
are occupied and just as we really
are. Even if a moment before we
were engaged in the lowly work of
the fields, we can in the very next
moment address the Almighty with
personal, private requests about
ourselves and those dear to us.
Disregarding our dress and our
occupation—our spiritual level of
attainment, the Almighty displays
His pleasant manner, His smiling
countenance and His loving kind
ness, while He accepts the requests
graciously and willingly.
If by any chance and for any
reason, there is anyone not yet
permeated with the realization
that he is in the month of Elul, he
should know that at any moment
he might confront the Almighty
face to face! This is the sole oppor
tunity he has during the whole year
to meet the Almighty without pre
vious preparations.
In Elul the Almighty appears in
a happy and elevated spirit, willing
to grant all blessings; when we
present him with the request for a
good year not only is our petition
accepted, but we are able to ac
company Him back to the“capital”
and even to the “Palace.” We may
be sure that He will grant our
request and will give us a good and
sweet year.
Custom
Judaic
Ceramics
• Dancing Menorahs
•Shabbar Candles
• Wall Sculptures
•Free Mezuza wirh purchase
New Studio
Call for Brochure
BATHROOMS
SHOULDN'T
BE BORING
< 1 ^
^IIIIIIIPHUH |||| III, ^
Complete bathroom
renovations
Numbing repairs
& installation
Shower pans
replaced ;
MAKING DREAMS COME TRUE
-the-mostep-both-
(404)971-8162
MARK BRESSLER LYNN BRESSLER
master plumber journeyman plumber
designer/builder design specialist
METRO WIDE DELIVERY
MAJOR CREDIT CARDS BY PHONE
FLOWER shops
255-7127
5975 Roswell Rd.
Hammond Festival Center
565-2217
1401 Johnson Ferry Rd.
Merchants Festival Center
ZAC PASMANICK, CRS
Certified Residential Specialist
OFFERING THE BEST
OF INTOWN LIVING
MORNINGSIDE
VIRGINIA-HIGHLAND
MIDTOWN
DRUID HILLS
ANSLEY
BUCKHEAD
off.: 874-8800 Res.: 892-1177
Bridging The
G.A.P.
Growing As Parents
Plain talk about a hands-on approach for living with
and learning about your learning disabled and
attention-deficit child.
Tuesdays, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
September 23 - November 11
(8 meetings)
presented by
Ruth Melkonian, M.S.
Bonnie M. Maxon, M.S.
billed through: Northside Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine
To register, call 257-0326 or 435-8811, or write: G.A.P., c/o Ruth
Melkonian, 5525 New Wellington Close, Atlanta, GA 30327.
NOW OPEN
ON
SUNDAY
12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Shampoo • Cut • Blow Dry
$10 00
Men’s Wet Cut and Blow Dry
$8 00
Permanent (includes cut)
$35 00
Shampoo, Cut, and Set
$16 00
REGGIES
• Hair Stylist
Toco Hills Shopping Center *2205 LaVisto Rd., Suite C*633-3832
Hours:
Monday-Friday
8:30 a.m.-8:00 p.m.
Saturday
8:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
PAGE 11 THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE September 12, 1986