In the spirit of Elul being the month of preparation for the High Holiday period…
Three words feature prominently in the prayers of this period (and during the year!). Now is a perfect time to get to know their true meaning.
Tefilah. Teshuvah. Tzedakah.
Usually translated as Prayer. Repentance. Charity.
Maybe not quite correct!
Meditating and internalizing their deeper meanings can change our understanding of many concepts in Judaism and make our High Holiday (and daily!) experience more personal and meaningful.
- TEFILAH/Prayer: What is prayer? The dictionary definition of the English word is “A request for help”. True – in our prayers we ask for G-d’s help. However, the Hebrew word has an added, crucial dimension.
The Hebrew word, l’hitpallel (to pray) is the reflexive form of the verb pilel – to judge. And so, to pray Jewishly means self-reflection. An honest look back at ourselves. One of the essential elements of tefilah-prayer is our intentions, what we contemplate, what we think about during this time of connection to G-d.
Meditation at prayer time: Where am I in relation to G-d, my Creator, and what does He asks of me?
- TESHUVAH/Repentance: The focus of this month of Elul. Repentance is about changing. I was bad. Now I will become good. This is not the meaning of teshuvah. Teshuvah means “to return’” A person is coming back to G-d, returning to his genuine home. True teshuvah brings me back to who I really am. Even more, the Hebrew word comprises two parts – t’shuv+hey – return the Hebrew letter hai to G-d. The final hai of G-d’s name of four letters, refers to the part of us that is involved in the world, in mundane activities. Teshuvah is returning the hai to its source in the highest realms of holiness. It’s about self-transformation – becoming who G-d created us to be.
Meditation: Start a conversation with your soul. It is an actual part of G-d. Time to clean off the layers of materialism and physicality and allow it to shine and send you direction.
- TZEDAKAH/Charity: Tzedakah is from the word tzedek (justice). The word charity puts the focus on the giver, how good they are. Not at all the word tzedakah. Tzedakah is teaching us that whatever I have, be it money, possessions, abilities and time – it is all from G-d, and the reason He gave it to me is because He requires me to invest and share His gifts in doing deeds of kindness and goodness for others. Our mission is to reveal G-d in this material world, making it a place where He will feel at home. Using what He has given us to elevate this material world is the right (righteous-tzedakah) thing to do.
- Meditation: What can I do to further my holy mission? Look outside of myself. Teach and share with others? Where to invest my money for the best spiritual returns?
May your efforts bring results. May you be blessed with only goodness and sweetness in the future.