I Am To My Beloved

The Torah verse that epitomizes the emotion of love is: “Anee l’dodi v’dodi lee” – I am to my beloved, and my beloved is to me (Song of Songs 6:3).
The ideal love relationship according to the Torah is one in which both
parties are willing to give themselves to their chosen partner. The
Hebrew acronym for the verse Anee l’dodi v’dodi lee is “Elul,” the name of the Hebrew month that precedes Rosh Hashana.

When
speaking of Rosh Hashana, the sages discuss the great sense of awe that
one must feel. They do not, however, mean awe as in fear. Rather, they
mean awe as in a sense of reverence, of being overwhelmed by the
greatness of God. The purpose of Rosh Hashana is not simply to make
people feel guilty for their mistakes or promise to do better (although
that too is important), but, as with much of Jewish life, it is to help
develop each individual’s relationship with God.

To
have a relationship with God, a person must recognize all of God’s
roles–including King and Judge, as is the focus of Rosh Hashana. During
Elul, however, we focus on God as the Beloved of the Jewish people.

In
many rabbinic allegories, the Jewish people are likened to a bride
while God is portrayed as the waiting groom. The Jewish people (both as
individuals and as a nation) can gain the most by recognizing that God
loves His people and wishes to bring blessing upon their homes.

“I
am to my beloved, and my beloved is to me.” When “I” (meaning the
Jewish people) can truly give to “my beloved” (meaning God), then God
will become ours in a beautiful and Divine partnership.