חלק ב — תורה 87

Know! the Kabbalistic meditations for Elul are a rectification for the blemish of the brit. For the deeper theme of Elul’s Kabbalistic meditations is “Who makes a way in the sea” (Isaiah 43:16; and as is brought in The Kavanot of the Ari, of blessed memory)—to shine the concept of derekh (“way”) into the sea. This derekh is opened in the month of Elul (see The Kavanot for all the Kabbalistic meditations for Elul).

Now, the blemish of the brit is primarily in this concept of DeReKh. One should have shone the concept of the Reish -Khaf-Dalet (224) lights into the concept of sea, i.e., faith, but turned away from this and blemished the concept of derekh, as in “for all flesh had perverted its derekh (way)” (Genesis 6:12). For a wife is called derekh, as is brought in the teachings of our Sages, of blessed memory (Kiddushin 2b). But there is another derekh, the concept of “the derekh of a promiscuous woman” (Proverbs 30:20) . The rule is that the blemish is primarily in the concept of derekh, that one did not shine the derekh into the sea.

And, occasionally, as a result of this blemish it is possible to lose one’s zivug. Having turned away from his soul mate, it is difficult for him to find her. And even if he finds his soul mate, she will oppose him and not incline to what he wants, because he turned away from her instead of shining into her. This leads to her wanting something different, opposing him. [As the Sages said:] And then, if he is not worthy, she opposes him (Yevamot 63a).

And the month of Elul is when it is possible to rectify this and to shine the derekh into the sea. {The Kabbalistic meditations for Elul are therefore a rectification for this.} And so when he rectifies this, he finds his zivug and, rather than opposing him, [she wants] what he wants.

Now, there is an amazing hidden teaching in this. Know! Avraham imparted this secret to his servant Eliezer when he sent him to seek his son Yitzchak’s soul mate. This is the deeper theme of the Kabbalistic meditations for Elul, which are propitious for rectifying the brit, because they are the means for finding one’s zivug. This is because the aforementioned rectification creates within her a desire for him. Previously, she would not incline to what he wants because she turned away from him, and as a result he cannot find his zivug. And even if he found her, she would not incline to what he wants, as mentioned above. However, through the Kabbalistic meditations for Elul, which are a rectification for this, a desire for him is created within her.

This hidden teaching is explained in the Torah, in the chapter about Eliezer, for Avraham imparted this secret to him. And this is what Avraham said to Eliezer: “And if the woman is not willing to go after you (V’im Lo toveh ha’ishah Lalekhet Acharekha)” (Genesis 24:8). Look and see the wonders of our Torah, for the initial letters of the [first two and last two] words of this verse spell ELUL, and in the middle are the words “the woman is willing.” Through the concept of Elul, i.e., the deeper theme of Elul’s Kabbalistic meditations, the woman is willing, since this makes her want him.

It follows, that in these very words which Avraham spoke to Eliezer regarding the concern that the woman might not be persuaded to follow him—in other words, that which he said to him: “V’im Lo toveh ha’ishah Lalekhet Acharekha”—with these very words he revealed to him the secret of the rectification for this, namely, the deeper theme of Elul hinted at in the initial letters. It is the rectification for this, because through this the woman is willing.

There are additional very awesome hidden teachings in this.

Study as well the lesson which begins “Then God said to Moshe, ‘Summon Yehoshua’” (Likutey Moharan I, 6), which speaks of the Kabbalistic meditations for Elul. It is a rectification for the blemish of the brit, as mentioned above. In other words, study that lesson, merit understanding it, and use it to perform some devotion in the service of God—this will rectify the blemish of the brit .