The Jewish calendar date of this Shabbat is the 18th of Elul. The Jewish numerals for 18 are the letters “yud” and “chet” spell the word “Chai” which means life. So the calendar date reads as saying “The Life of Elul.”
It is the birthday of two legendary Jewish leaders.
Rabbi Yisrael Baal Shem Tov, the founder of the Chassidic movement, was born in the year 1698. His life long mission was to reveal the inner dimension of Torah and the Jewish people. He captivated the minds of the greatest scholars of his time, and invigorated the masses by ensuring the simple folk that their service of G-d was precious and meaningful. (Learn more about the Baal Shem Tov here.)
Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, known as the Alter Rebbe, the founder of the Chabad movement, was born in the year 1745. As a disciple of the Baal Shem Tov’s primary disciple he revealed a profoundly straightforward intellectual approach to the exhilarating teachings of the Baal Shem Tov. Whereas in the past the study of Kabbalah was limited to a select few, this new Chabad approach made the mystical teachings of the Torah available to anyone that was willing to learn. (Learn more about the Alter Rebbe here.)
Since then the teachings of Chassidus have been an integral part of Torah scholarship and an integral aspect of preserving the global Jewish community for generations.
There are many ways to appreciate the contribution of these great sages but I will focus on an idea that is best expressed through the idea of birth.
Before birth, the fetus is a complete body including hair and nails. During pregnancy, the life of this fetus is considered an extension of the mother. The independent life of this child begins when the soul is breathed into its nostrils upon birth. At that moment the soul and body are not two entities working together, they are united together as one indivisible entity.
For many, Torah study and Mitzvah observance is a way to enhance life, making it more meaningful. The insightful teachings of Chassidus allow us to realize that Torah and Mitzvoth are life itself. Everything we experience is a mere detail in fulfilling our mission of serving G-d with joy.
As Elul is the month we prepare for Rosh Hashanah, this realization infuses fresh life into our preparations and sets the stage for a new year of focusing on the epicenter of life – Torah and Mitzvoth.