Why Is Ellul Davka in the Agricultural Season?
Ten Daze of Teshuva
A faithful chasid, who had spent an uplifting Rosh Hashana in Belz, basking in the presence of the holy R’ Yissocher Dov zt”l, prepared to return home on Tzom Gedalia. He entered the Rebbe’s sanctum and requested a farewell blessing. To his surprise, the Rebbe told him to stay behind in Belz.
“Today is a fast-day. You will certainly find the journey taxing, and will have no headspace to learn Torah. Tomorrow, you will be drained from the ride and need a rest. Instead of spending two days without any Torah, stay here in Belz and learn without distractions.”
“But, Rebbe…! You know that I am a vintner, and my work is very seasonal. Harvesting at the right time is one of the crucial steps in producing good wines. And that time is now. I can’t afford to miss it. Furthermore, many poor Jews are relying on me for employment in the vineyards. For them too, every day counts; time is money!”
“The Aseres Yemei Teshuva must be spent studying Torah and works of Mussar,” countered the Rebbe, unconvinced.
After hearing such firm words, the chassid decided that he would heed them, irrespective of the impending financial losses.
Hearing his chassid’s decision, the Rebbe turned to him and said, “I’ve always had the following question: Why on earth did Hashem choose the months of Elul and Tishrei as months of Judgement and a 9-day holiday? It’s the busiest time of the agricultural year! In fact, the Torah itself refers to Sukkos as the Holiday of the Gathering [of the crops]. It would have been so much more convenient to relegate these holy days to the winter months of Teves and Shevat, when the days are short, the nights are long, and you have plenty of spare time for Torah study, etc.!
“The answer is that had these days been placed during the ‘easy’ months, then any slacking off from Teshuva would have been viewed in Heaven as a great infraction. But since the Teshuva period was set for the year’s pressurized months, even a small amount of sincere Teshuva is considered of value in Heaven. A person who steals time from his work to enter the Beis Hamidrash, even for a few minutes here and there, will be rewarded amply. How kind it is of Hashem to create such a beneficial arrangement.”
With that message firmly embedded in the chassid’s mind the Rebbe deemed it safe to send him home. “Vos a Yid tut iz altz revach. For gezunterhait!” [What a Jew does now is all profitable. Off you go, to your home, and may you be successful!]
[Tiferes Banim (Toisig) Vol 2 P223-4]
From Your Shiur, here.