01 Sep ELUL STRATEGIES

As we get closer and
closer to Rosh HaShanah,
the day that our fate and
the fates of our loved
ones are decided, I would
like to share with my
dear readers some vital,
lifesaving strategies.
The Orchos Chaim l’HaRav Luniel, zt”l, zy”a,
makes the following stupendous statement,
“Harotzeh l’harich yomim, hevei marbeh
b’achim v’rei’im – If someone wants to
lengthen his days, let him increase his relatives
and friends.” The idea behind this is that
Hashem will not take someone away from this
world, even if they don’t deserve to be here, if
they are very needed by someone else. Thus, it
says by Nadav and Avihu, who were Divinely
executed for a sin in the Mishkon, that if they
would’ve been married or if they had children
they would not have died, since fulfilling their
wife’s needs or their children’s needs would
have saved them.
It is therefore imperative, as we approach Rosh
HaShanah, to ask ourselves, “Am I a worthy
eizer, helper to my husband?” “Do I fulfil
v’simach es ishto, making my wife happy?”
Successfully carrying out these actions could
literally be a matter of life and death.
Similarly, are we a support and a presence in
the lives of our children, grandchildren and

great grandchildren? The Chasam Sofer, zt”l,
zy”a, cites the verse, “V’hosircha Hashem
b’fri bit’n’cha – And Hashem will give you
additions because of the fruit of your womb.
He interprets this to mean, “If we make
ourselves useful to our descendants, Hashem
will keep us around longer because of this.”
The same thing is obviously true when we
are a source of support, comfort, and joy to
our elderly parents. When we go out of the
way to be there for them, even when it is time
consuming and difficult, we protect ourselves
with the Divine assurance of, “L’ma’an
yarichun yomecha – In order that you should
prolong your life.” There are many examples
of making ourselves needed, such as when we
are a source of solace and strength to a lonely
widow, widower or divorcé, are thoughtful,
patient, and empathetic with a person going
through a divorce, or encouraging and
inspiring to an older single.
Remember the Golden Rule: Hashem doesn’t
take someone away when they are needed.
Another important strategy, as we start
intensifying our prayers with the saying of
Selichos, is to remember that if our mouths
are sullied by lashon hara / sinful gossip,
ona’as devarim / hurtful words, or nival peh
/ vulgarities, that mouth cannot possibly be
effective in petitioning Hashem for one’s
needs.

Yet another important consideration is that, at
this time of the year, we approach Hashem with
a posture of brokenness and humility, knowing
full well the litany of vices and shortcomings
that we have tallied during the previous year.
Since we approach Hashem like a poor man
begging for mercy, it behooves us to beef
up our tzedakah, our charity output until, “It
hurts,” as Rav Moshe Wolfson, zt”l, zy”a,
would say. In that way, measure for measure,
may Hashem shower us with His beneficence
although we are unworthy.
Of course, the greatest merit of all is adding
to our Torah study budget. As we all know,
“Talmud Torah k’neged kulom – The learning
of Torah equals the sum of all other mitzvos
put together.” The Gemara teaches us
categorically that Torah is, “Meigan u’matzlei
– It shields and It saves.” What better way to
ask for a new year than to show Hashem that
we want to use our time to learn Torah? For
Torah is the very reason that Hashem created
the world. As it says, “Bereishis bara Elokim,”
and Rashi says, “Bishvil haTorah shenikreis
Reishis – [That G-d created the world] for the
Torah, which is called Reishis.”
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If we are fulfilling Hashem’s plan, then He will
certainly want to keep us around.
May we be successful with these strategies and
in their merit may Hashem bless us with long
life, good health, and everything wonderful.