Welcome to Embrace Shabbat. In the month of Elul, we begin preparing for Rosh Hashana. In the mussaf prayers, we quote 30 different pesukim , many of which reference Hashem’s kingdom and grandeur. The fifth passuk reads: ה' מָלָךְ֮ גֵּא֪וּת לָ֫בֵ֥שׁ לָבֵ֣שׁ ה' עֹ֣ז הִתְאַזָּ֑ר אַף־תִּכּ֥וֹן תֵּ֝בֵ֗ל בַּל־תִּמּֽוֹט - Hashem is King, He clothes Himself in grandeur; Hashem wears strength, He girds Himself with strength. He makes sure that the world is established; he doesn’t falter. In addition to the Rosh Hashanah prayers, this passuk is recited each Friday in the shir shel yom . After Adam HaRishon was created, he opened his eyes, saw the beautiful creations surrounding him, and called out this passuk . We too, recite this prayer on Friday, the day that he was created, as well as on Rosh Hashanah, referring to Hashem as our King. The Chidah also makes a beautiful connection between this passuk and Shabbat. He quotes the Arizal who points out that גֵּא֪וּת לָ֫בֵ֥ש ׁ, when unscrambled, spell גואל שבת - He will redeem us in the zechus of Shabbat. This idea is similarly expressed in the Midrash אין ישראל נגאלין עד שישמרו את השבת , the Jewish people will not be redeemed until they keep Shabbat. By keeping the Shabbat at a high level- שמירה מעולה - a person demonstrates that HaKadosh Baruch Hu created the world, that He is the King, and אין עוד מלבד , there is no one else but Him. By extension, if Hashem is in full control and the world is His, He can forgive any sin. The Ramchal writes that Hashem can forgive any sin, regardless of the “rules” and the more one believes that He is in charge, the more likely that his sins will be forgiven. Therefore, the Chidah says, by keeping Shabbat and testifying to this concept, a person will bring the Geula closer. Hashem’s mercy will be invoked due to one’s observance of Shabbat, hastening the redemption. עז התאזר has the numerical value of 613, because Hashem will consider it like we kept his 613 mitzvot , as Shabbat is equal to all of the mitzvot. In addition to this passuk , Adam HaRishon also said Mizmor Shir l’Yom HaShabbat when he realized the power of forgiveness that comes with Shabbat. We must recognize the power of keeping Shabbat- we are testifying to Hashem’s Oneness and His power over everything, and that understanding allows and invokes Hashem’s ability to forgive, bringing the Geula closer. This is especially important as we get ready for Rosh Hashana. The Rabbis teach that one should be especially careful in the Shabbatot of Elul because if we keep the last two Shabbats of the year, it will bring the Geula. This warning does not just apply to the communal Geula, but also to individual, personal Geulaot. We all need to be redeemed from our difficulties- קָרְבָ֣ה אֶל־נַפְשִׁ֣י גְאָלָ֑ה ּ, come close to my soul and let me be redeemed. B’ezrat Hashem, in the zechus of our high level of Shemirat Shabbat - שמירה מעולה - we should be zoche to the ultimate full Geula, and until then, everyone’s own personal Geulot. Shabbat Shalom.