Shiurei Lev Aharon – In Memory Of Rav Ahron Walkin Zt”L

There was a time and day where the month of Elul was a period that everyone would put a great deal of effort into the “avodah” (work) of Elul. However, today we are more lenient in labor. We first need to understand the confines of these actions and then we might be able to connect more closely to generations of the past and live their Elul experiences.

The Mishnah Berurah states that there are two points to Elul, “Ani l’dodi v’dodi li.” According to the Shir HaShirim, this infers that we love Hashem as much as Hashem loves us. The second idea is “v’mol Hashem,” suggesting that Hashem will cut off the tummas ha’lev (the afflicted heart).

The Shelah brings in an additional theme of aryeh v’shog. This implies that when a lion roars, who is not afraid? The Hebrew letters that make up aryeh (alef, reish, yud, and heh) each have their own deeper meaning. The alef symbolizes Elul, the reish reminds us of the upcoming high holiday of Rosh Hashanah, the yud corresponds to the next high holiday of Yom Kippur, and finally the heh connotes the finale of the high holidays, Hoshana Rabbah. Together, these make up the Yamim Noraim.

Elul is often viewed as a time of fear and correction, yet we remain steadfast in connecting and becoming closer to the Almighty. In Sefer HaYirah, the Rabbeinu Yonah explains how one should endure trepidation from the onset of Elul through the completion of the Yamim Noraim.

In his classes, Rav Walkin related a few incidents detailing this sense of fright during Elul.

In years past, the face of Rav Yisrael Salanter would express a demeanor of dread. To this end, Rav Yisrael was once asked, “Is Elul a bear? It looks like you saw a bear,” said the puzzled acquaintance. Rav Yisrael in his deep wisdom responded, “Elul is more than just a mere bear.” Rav Walkin related, Dovid HaMelech told Shaul, “I am not afraid of anything!” (Shmuel 1, Chapter 17), but when King David mentions the month of Elul in Tehillim, he spoke quite differently. So, when Rav Yisrael Salanter stated that he saw more than just a bear, he was referring to the upcoming Rosh Hashanah and the fear permeating his face the entire month.

In a separate legend, the Rosh HaYeshiva explained a teaching of the Klausenberger Rebbe. The sage wrote, “I have a letter from the B’nei Yissaschar, but the lines are not parallel.” The Rebbe clarified that the letter could not be completed, because his hands had been shaking from the distress of Elul.

The hakdomah to the Beis Aharon sefer, elucidates how the Beis Aharon would deliver words of mussar before Rosh Hashanah. The preface describes how it was commonplace for those assembled to be dragged out of shul from fainting.

Long ago, there was a saying that even the fish would tremble during Elul. It seems unrealistic for the fish of the sea to have the ability to be scared. The Rosh HaYeshiva defended these claims based on the teachings of his uncle, Rav Chaim Walkin. “Each of us relate our surroundings based on what occupies our time. For example, when a person told over a fascinating story to a travel agent, the businessman replied, “I enjoyed your tale so much, I hope to repeat it and get lots of mileage out of it.” Now thinking of the schools of fish shaking about as they swim in the waters of the world during the month of Elul, we must understand that it is not that the ordinary fish was trembling, it is us discerning that the fish must have been shaking because it was Elul. In reality, the fish were just swimming like normal.

So, why do we not feel the power of Elul today? Rav Yisrael Salanter contemplates that we do so many transgressions over the year that our souls become numb and we inevitably lose touch with the authority that Elul demands. Let us be reminded of one of the avodahs noted earlier - v’mol Hashem. Hashem is removing the faults on our hearts, allowing us to reestablish a connection.

Rav Aharon Kotler offers two more motives for our generation not feeling Elul on the same caliber. Firstly, we do not understand the problem of committing the sins and next we are not embarrassed to execute wrongdoings.

The Torah teaches that we send home from a war those who sinned, even if they repented. We then cover it up with the excuse of a new home or getting married. If we would only understand the depth of the transgression, then we would have real fear in the month of Elul.

As we study these messages in the days leading up to the high holidays, without having the Rosh HaYeshiva available for guidance, we must take the rav’s words as they have been taught to us and instill a unique fear in our everyday actions.

Visit www.ravahronwalkin.com for more insights from the Rosh HaYeshiva.