Dvar Torah for Chodesh Elul

(For those unfamiliar with the story, or in need of review, please see it here. It is part of the children’s section we are developing with God’s help.)

The Rebbe told this story “while on the road. Whoever heard it had a thought of repentance.” The month of Elul is a “road” (see Likutey Moharan II, Lesson #87), a road to repentance.

The viceroy is a good soul. He knows that the king is hurting because the princess is lost. So he volunteers to search for her and bring her back. He is full of resolve and tries hard, very hard, to succeed.

Slowly, slowly, seemingly by luck and certainly by pluck, he makes progress. The viceroy searches in some likely places. Yet when the princess isn’t found he is not afraid to think out of the box. He is determined to succeed. He uses his seikhel (intelligence, good sense) to make decisions and finally locates the princess.

She instructs him on how to rescue her. After all the years of toil and frustration that he has already invested, he puts in another year of intense effort and is poised to free the princess and re-unite her with her father, the king. What happens? On his way to rescuing her, the viceroy forgets about his mission. He is distracted by temptation and falls asleep. He can’t be awoken. He must wake up himself.

When he wakes his firsts words are, “Where in the world am I?”

This being reality and not fantasy, the viceroy gets a second chance. Another year of intense effort, the princess tells him, and he can succeed. Again ready to complete his mission the viceroy proceeds to the princess’s temporary quarters. Sadly, he is again distracted and again falls into a slumber, deeper than the first. He can’t be awoken. He must wake up himself.

When he wakes his firsts words are, “Where in the world am I?”

This being reality and not fantasy, the viceroy gets no third chance. He is back to square one. Whereas at first he didn’t know the princess’s address, he now has an address that seemingly doesn’t exist. The viceroy again sets out to find and rescue the princess. He knows very well the meaning of failure and frustration, but he doesn’t know the meaning of despair.

The viceroy’s sheer determination convinces even the giants, the ones with the strongest sticks, to go against their better judgement and assist him. Ultimately, some how, he finds and frees the princess.

So, Mr. and Mrs. Viceroy, how many times this year have you fallen asleep? After all the effort you’ve expended in trying to be a better a Jew, it’s a crying shame. How many times have you taken stock and asked where you are? How many times have you refused to give up? Don’t. The princess and her Father—your King—are waiting. Ultimately, some how, you will succeed.

agutn Shabbos!
Shabbat Shalom!