Elul Life is but a dream

Welcome to Embrace Shabbat. The Gemara in Masechet Brachot (14a) says: כָּל הַלָּן שִׁבְעַת יָמִים בְּלֹא חֲלוֹם נִקְרָא ״רַע ״, one who goes seven nights without a dream is called “evil”. The simple explanation is that if a person has no dreams for an entire week, he is called “evil.” On a deeper level, the Vilna Gaon explains that this world is but a dream. (Of course, he lived from 1720-1797, years before Row, Row, Row Your Boat popularized the line in 1852.) What is the Jewish concept of a dream? A dream is a collection of fantasies and thoughts that are not connected to reality, but seem very real. So too, this world is a dream; it seems like a reality, but it isn’t. Reality is the World to Come and spiritual pursuits. We live in a dream world, where we confuse other activities as reality. The Gaon of Vilna says that during the week, people are busy making a living. They are involved in worldly pursuits and can get caught up in the fantasy world of Olam Hazeh. However, at least once a week, on Shabbat which is called “ mein olam haba,” there should be a time to focus on the fact that “life is but a dream” and that reality is the world of spirit. He explains this Gemara in a brilliant way: whoever goes seven days , and passes through a Shabbat, without realizing that life is but a dream, is called “wicked.” At least once a week, a person must recognize that life is a dream. Shabbat is the time to contemplate and come to this realization. Elul is a month of contemplation, where a person recalibrates and identifies what is important in life. Shabbat has the same purpose. The Chidah writes that ideally, a person should set aside time for Cheshbon haNefesh every day. If not, they should at least spend the month of Elul doing so. I want to add that at least on Shabbat in the month of Elul, a person should ensure that they are engaging in this contemplation. The Chidushei HaRim was once asked whether a person is allowed to learn Mussar on Shabbat, as it may get a person down or anxious. He answered by quoting the passuk: וּמַלְתֶּם אֵת עָרְלַת לְבַבְכֶם , you should circumcise the foreskin of your heart. When a person learns Mussar, they are removing the foreskin off their heart. Just as the Brit Milah is allowed to be done on Shabbat, so too, learning Mussar, another form of circumcising the heart, can be done on Shabbat. This concept is closely tied to the theme of the month of Elul. The Rabbis cite various hints in the Torah for the month of Elul. Famously, אני לדודי ודודי לי , I am to my Beloved and my Beloved is to me, has the Roshei Teivot of Elul. A lesser known passuk with the same Roshei Teivot is brought down by the commentaries: ומל ה' אלוקיך את לבבך ואת לבב זרעך , Hashem will circumcise your heart and the heart of your children. Elul is a time when G-d comes down into this world. When we put in our effort and say that we are to our Beloved, G-d responds in kind. He will circumcise our hearts, but we have to take the first step- contemplating with Cheshbon HaNefesh. If a person did not do Cheshbon HaNefesh during the week, Shabbat is a time to contemplate and realize that “life is but a dream.” Focus on the reality- the world of spirit and the pursuit of Torah, mitzvot, and Olam Haba. Have a Shabbat Shalom and a Chodesh Tov.