CHAI ELUL:
ADDING CHAYUS THROUGHOUT THE YEARThe special date of the 18th of Elul (which falls out this year on Aug. 26) commemorates the birthday of the Baal Shem Tov, founder of the Chasidic movement, and the birth, 50 years later, of Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, founder of the Chabad Chasidic philosophy.
The birthday of a tzadik, a righteous person, has a strong connection and a profound effect on the month in which the birthday occurs. The number 18 is written out with the Hebrew letters which spell the word chai, meaning alive. Thus, the month of Elul, in which the birthdays of these two great tzadikim take place, gains extra vitality and strength. And the special theme of that particular month also gains vitality.
The special service of Elul the additional prayers, charity, and Torah study are all infused with an extra measure of vitality. By studying the teachings and the ways of the Baal Shem Tov and the Alter Rebbe, we can approach our service to G‑d with greater enthusiasm.
Our spiritual service of the entire month of Elul is stock-taking for the previous year. Beginning with the 18th of Elul, we concentrate each day on a different month. Thus, on Chai Elul, we review Tishrei, the first month of the Jewish year. We contemplate how we observed the High Holidays and how we celebrated Sukkos and Simchas Torah. On the 19th of Elul we do a mental review of the month of Cheshvan, a month devoid of holidays but filled with the extra treasures we picked up in Tishrei.
In this manner, on each day we take time out of our hectic schedules to see how and where we can improve in the future.
We obtain the energy and enthusiasm to do this soul-searching from the day of Chai Elul itself, which gives chai life vitality to all the days of Elul, those preceding the 18th and those following it.
One way we can assure that the year will be different is by taking the chai, the life and liveliness of Elul, with us throughout the year. By adding spirit, joy, enthusiasm and chayus to our mitzvos and Jewish studies, we will surely hasten the time of a return to life and eternal life that we all await, for ourselves and our loved ones, in the times of Moshiach.