By Mord Maman
The first time I saw the Queen of England during the Diamond Jubilee. It was at the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant, and I lined the river along with a reported 1 million others to see the impressive 1000 boat flotilla. As the boat filed past my vantage point there was growing excitement as the Royal Convoy approached and as it did everybody clamoured for a good look. It certainly wasn’t up close and personal but it was a memorable experience seeing the monarch for the first time.
Other people are lucky enough to meet her in a more personal capacity, either being awarded an honour by her or a brief encounter during one of her visits around the country and world in her capacity as Queen. However for the majority, her face on our currency in the closest we will get. The Queen of England is certainly not accessible unless you are a family member or a close advisor.
By extension, given the true nature of power in England and other western democracies, people don’t simply get face time with the Prime Minister or the President. Of course the political system allows us to have our say, but one does not simply walk upto 10 Downing Street with a bottle of wine and a request.
The Month of Elul, is known as a time when the King is in the field. The King this refers to is God.
All year long we try to engage with holiness and spirituality but it is difficult, it seems far away. The time of Elul is when it is easier. The chance to attain a spiritual connection, to engage in a relationship with the Creator is during Elul when He is in the field. He isn’t on a boat in the middle of the Thames, or in a Rolls Royce with bulletproof glass, God is there for us if we choose to go to the field to meet Him.
This month is a chance to build that relationship, so when it comes to the High Holy Days, days of judgement and atonement we encounter a dear friend not an estranged monarch.
