Upon scrutinizing the Hebrew calendar, one discloses a sequence. One month is a prelude to the ensuing month. One holiday interconnects with the subsequent festival. The pattern is numerous. Rosh HaShana heralds Yom Kippur. Yom Kippur and Sukkot are linked in concert. The Day of Judgment departs with a mood of optimism at its conclusion. Sukkot, " the season of simcha" in essence is the obvious postscript. Passover commemorates the birth of the Jewish nation. Through the days of Sefira, we link Passover with Shavuot. Shavuot celebrates the time when we stood at the foot of Mount Sinai and received the Holy Torah, the destiny of the Jewish people.

The tragic days of the siege of both Temples in Jerusalem begins with the 17th of Tammuz. Three weeks of national mourning links this date with the ninth of Av, the saddest date on our calendar, commemorating the final destruction of both Temples.

However, it is puzzling to see any continuity between the month of Av and the month of Elul, the last two months of the year.

Av is a period of national mourning for countless tragedies that befell our people throughout history. Elul is the month of repentance. The year is concluding. In anticipation of the New Year it behooves us to do Teshuva - penitence.

What, if anything, bonds Av with Elul?

It appears to me that this aspect of the Jewish calendar is demonstrative of our fate and how we respond and contend with it. Other nations encounter affliction and suffering. Typically, they evaporate into the annals of history. They react to defeat by collapsing and they cease to exist.

We are thoroughly different. We, the Jews, build upon our Tzarot. After the ashes of Auschwitz, an Israeli army appeared. Our national psyche informs us constantly even when we endure destruction we will persevere until the end of days. This is the will of G-d. At times, we are at a loss to grasp why He has punished us. What have we done to anger Him? The chastisement far outweighs the seemingly meager misconduct. We don't stand up and blasphemy the Al-Mighty. We react with integrity and distinctness. We strain to grow and improve. We become introspective. We analyze our behavior and strive towards greatness. The stones that annihilated our homes, we gather together and use as bricks to rebuild a superior residence. This epitomizes the Jew as an individual and exemplifies them as a people.

The Jew, who is shattered by tragic death, stands at the graveside of his beloved relative. He is commanded by the Halacha to publicly sanctify the name of the L-rd at that precise moment. He declares in the presence of a minyan Yitkadal V'yitkadash, Shemei Raba - May the name of the L-rd be exalted and sanctified. At the cemetery, the essence of Tu'mah - impurity and unholiness - we recite the Kaddish, the prayer that emphasizes Kidusha - holiness and purity.

On the night of Tisha B'Av we recite Lamentations. The concluding two verses are, "Turn thou us unto Thee, O L-rd, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old. Thou hast utterly rejected us, and be exceedingly wroth against us!" The custom is that the entire congregation chimes in and repeats once more "Hashevenu Hashem Elecha V'nashuva Chadesh Yamenu K'kedem. Turn Thou us unto Thee�" What is the rationale for this custom? Why the repetition?

It seems to me the first time we recite Hasevenu - return us unto Thee - is prior to G-d's act of rejection. However, we as a people believe that even after His rejection, we still aspire to renew our relationship with the Al-Mighty "as the days of old." After tragedy, destruction and rejection, we relentlessly persist in enduring. We insist upon survival and growth. This is personified by the transition from the month of Av - tragedy and destruction - to the month of Elul - spiritual and religious growth.

We culminate our year with Elul - "Ani Ledodi V'dodi Lee" - I am to my Beloved (G-d) and my Beloved is to me. It develops into the time of year when we rebuild our lives and attune it to holiness and sanctity. This can usher in a new era, Rosh HaShana, when we persist with unflinching faith. The L-rd will bless us with a wonderful year, one that will encourage us towards a loftier life. Bring us closer to You Al-Mighty. Shower upon us from Your eternal blessings. Teach us to grow as a people and as individuals. Make it a growth based upon love and closeness between G-d and His chosen people. Amen.