Better than THE X FILES
You know the scene. It’s been on the X-Files and other science fiction movies and shows many times. Aliens abduct an earthling, conduct some experiments on him, perform some undetectable operation, implant something in his body (back of the neck seems popular), and then deposit him someplace (often the exact spot from where he was abducted in the first place). The guy looks the same, but he definitely isn’t the same anymore. Sometimes others notice the changes; sometimes they don’t. But the person is changed in some way... forever.

L’HAVDIL (1000 x 1000 differences), something like that happens to each of us at this time of the year. Not an alien abduction, but a religious one. Halacha, minhag, and hashkafa combine to transform each of us into a different person.

The abduction begins on Rosh Chodesh Elul, with the piercing sound of the Shofar. That is followed by the first of 100 recitations of Psalm 27, L’David, HaShem Ori V’Yish’i. The transformation has begun. Day by day through the month of Elul, we are given the opportunity for introspection and self-improvement. Towards the end of the month, an intensive program of Slichot is added. Then comes Rosh HaShana and a tremendous increase in the intensity of the Shofar sounds. And the prayers with their special themes and messages. All designed to make us different people. If we want to be. When we will eventually be released back into our everyday world, we will be different people, although we might outwardly appear the same as before.

Then comes the Aseret Y’mei T’shuva treatment and the intense Yom Kippur experience. This is followed, without let-up, by the period of preparation for Sukkot and then the celebration of that joyous holiday and the performance of its mitzvot.

The Four Species represent the four organs of the body - heart, spine, eyes, and mouth that are being operated on, and changed forever.

And then another intensive one-day treatment - this time it is an immersion in the Joy and Love of Torah.

Over a period of more than 50 days, we have had a full range of our emotions and thoughts exposed to Holiness, and we have been challenged to rise to the occasion and become better people.

Then comes ISRU CHAG and we are deposited right where we were before the abduction - physically, that is. But we are not even close to the same place spiritually. We still radiate with the effects of T’shuva and Mitzvot, of Yir’at HaShem and Ahavat HaShem. We look around us and we see “regular”, “normal”, everyday life. The next Chag is several calendar pages away. And upcoming is Shabbat B’reishit - not Shabbat Parshat B’reishit, but Shabbat B’reishit, the week and Shabbat of a new Beginning.

And we are ready for it as never before.