Rav Moshe Sternbuch Shlit"a ELUL and Ki Seze

 The Mazal of ELUL

“When you lend to your neighbor any manner of loan, you shall not enter his home to take his security (Rashi: a loan of no substance)” (24:10).

The Chofetz Chaim explains Rashi’s enigmatic words on the basis of another Rashi on Sh’mos (22:25). Hashem tells the lender how much he owes Him, since his soul comes up to Him every night, and after presenting an account of its deeds is found to be lacking, and yet Hashem still returns it the following morning day after day.  Just like I act towards you with mercy, Hashem tells the lender, so should you have mercy on the borrower, and return his security on a daily basis.  This is what Rashi is referring to in this pasuk too.  All the debts in the world are considered as nothing compared to those which a person owes Hashem for all the mercies that have been bestowed upon him since he was born. 

A person who has parnassah or other worries weighing him down, should tell himself that as serious as they seem, they are of no consequence compared to what awaits him in the eternal world, and he would do well to invest his thoughts and energies into how to be saved from those genuine worries. 

Elul is the time to think about these matters and to fight the evil inclination by intensifying Torah learning.  The mazal of Elul, the month of mercy, is the besulah (maiden), symbolizing the rejuvenation we aspire to achieve in our lives in preparation for the Yamim Nora’im.

Amolek

“… Obliterate the remembrance of Amalek from beneath the heavens. You shall not forget” (25:19).

Rav Chaim Brisker notes that it does not say "you shall obliterate the descendants of Amalek”, but rather, "the remembrance of Amalek”, and this refers to anyone who adopts his heretical views and policies.  In the final generation - our generation - the power of Amalek increases, just like a flame suddenly becomes more intense before it becomes extinguished altogether. 

Rav Moshe Kordovero wrote that Jewish leaders in the final generation will be from Amalek.  This too does not refer to descendants of Amalek, but to those who espouse his views.

Unfortunately, secular leaders and politicians here in Eretz Yisroel, as well as the judiciary, are infected with hatred of religion. In this respect, they resemble Amalek who act out of such hatred, with no personal gain.  The attempts by secular elements to break the barriers separating us from them, and to integrate us into their way of life, also stem from the hatred of religion burning inside them.