כי ה' אלקיך מתהלך בקרב מחניך וכו' והיה מחניך קדוש ... (כג-טו)
The Torah tells us that Hashem “moves within your camp” - Hashem is with us, among Klal Yisroel, and actively part of our lives. No other Nation can boast of such a wonderful existence - only Bnei Yisroel, whose Father in Heaven, guides us.
I once heard a beautiful mashal in the name of R’ Chaim Shmuelevitz zt”l. He frames the following picture. Imagine a woman holding a sleeping baby in her arms, standing at the 400 bus stop in Yerushalayim. The baby is sleeping softly and the mother is holding him tightly. Finally, the bus arrives and she alights, sits down and watches the scenery on her trip to Bnei Brak. Thenbus ride lasts for the better part of an hour and after many twists and turns, she arrives at her destination and descends from the bus with her baby still sleeping in her arms. The question is: Did that baby travel the same distance she did? Of course he did. Is that baby aware of the journey that transpired? Of course not. As far as the baby is concerned he has not moved at all. He is still in the loving embrace of his mother. It makes no difference where he started or how long he has traveled. He expended no worries or fears on the entire journey, for all he felt was the LOVE and security of his mother.
This is how we must feel, so closely connected to Hashem, that no matter what would transpire in our lives, we would feel safe and secure as a baby in his mother’s arms. This is one explanation of "אני לדודי ודודי לי" - “I am to my Beloved and my Beloved is to me.” The closer we bring ourselves to Hashem, the closer He will come to us. Isn’t that the true goal and yearning of a Jew? Isn’t that the purpose of our tefillos, no matter what it is that we are asking for? There is no greater joy than the feeling of being close to Hashem. The feeling of security and love, of being carried in the arms of the “Kol Yachol.”
After I heard this vort, I was so inspired. I would actually close my eyes and imagine myself as a baby being carried by Hashem without worry or fear. This Elul, may we achieve "אני לדודי" so that we will merit the ultimate goal of "ודודי לי".
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