A Journey Toward Elul

The Yenuka often speaks of the importance of renewal in our relationship with HaShem to be alive, evolving, and rooted in love. A true relationship, after all, cannot remain stagnant. It must grow, shift, and deepen over time. And our service of HaShem is no different. It's meant to be vibrant and full of movement.

With that in mind, I’ve been thinking about how we move through these weeks, from the depths of Av toward the sweetness of Elul.

The sages teach that every Jew carries a spark of the Divine Presence, a miniature sanctuary. In a world that often distracts us from holiness, the rebuilding begins with the small acts: choosing kindness over judgment, carving moments of quiet in a noisy world, and drawing close to HaShem through mitzvot, prayer, and learning. Even when life feels fragmented, there is always a path back , one act, one step, one word at a time.

And as Av progresses, it naturally gives way to Elul, the month of divine intimacy. 

But to truly arrive at Elul, we can’t skip over Av. We must pass through it with eyes open and hearts soft, allowing ourselves to feel, to reflect, to rebuild slowly from within.