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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. 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