On the first day of Elul this week, we will begin reciting Perek 27 of Tehillim, “L’Dovid Hashem Ori V’Yishi,” twice each day. We will continue saying it for more than fifty days.

Why was this particular perek chosen to accompany us throughout these extraordinary days?

The Malbim explains that among the countless requests we can make of Hashem, there is one request that encompasses them all. Everything we truly need is ultimately contained within it.

That request is dveikus — closeness and connection to Hashem.

As explained by the Ramban, Mesilas Yesharim, and others, dveikus means living with Hashem constantly in our consciousness. Whatever we do, throughout our lives, should ultimately be with Hashem in mind. We eat, sleep, relax, vacation, to care for our physical, mental, and emotional well-being so that we can remain healthy and strong enough to fulfill Hashem’s Will — and thereby receive the countless blessings He wishes to bestow upon us, both in this world and for eternity.

The Mesilas Yesharim teaches that true perfection is found only in dveikus with Hashem. Among the pesukim he cites as the foundation for this is the magnificent fourth pasuk of Perek 27:

אַחַת שָׁאַלְתִּי מֵאֵת ה׳ אוֹתָהּ אֲבַקֵּשׁ, שִׁבְתִּי בְּבֵית ה׳ כָּל יְמֵי חַיַּי, לַחֲזוֹת בְּנֹעַם ה׳ וּלְבַקֵּר בְּהֵיכָלוֹ.

“One thing I ask of Hashem, that alone do I seek: that I may dwell in the House of Hashem all the days of my life, to behold the pleasantness of Hashem and to visit His Sanctuary.”

One thing.

Dovid HaMelech had needs, challenges, enemies, fears, and responsibilities beyond anything most of us could imagine. Yet when he distilled everything down to what he wanted most, there was ultimately only one request:

I want to be close to You.

One meaning of “dwelling in Hashem’s home” is living with the constant awareness that we are always being cared for by our Host. We are never on our own. Hashem is sustaining us, guiding us, providing for us, and taking care of our every need — always in the way that is truly best for us, as only He can know.

And then comes Elul.

Our Jewish calendar is not merely a collection of anniversaries on which we commemorate events that happened long ago. A day of spiritual significance carries within it the spiritual power of the original day. When that date returns, that spiritual opportunity returns with it.

On Rosh Chodesh Elul, Moshe Rabbeinu ascended Har Sinai for his third and final period of forty days.

After the first forty days, he descended with the original Luchos and encountered the tragedy of the Eigel HaZahav, the Golden Calf, and shattered the Luchos. During the second forty days, Moshe pleaded for Klal Yisrael and achieved forgiveness. But the full relationship of love and favor had not yet been restored.

Then came the final forty days — from Rosh Chodesh Elul through Yom Kippur.

At their conclusion, Moshe descended with the second Luchos. Hashem had not merely forgiven us. His love and favor toward us had been restored.

Those very days are returning to us now.

These are the יְמֵי רַחֲמִים וְרָצוֹן — days of extraordinary compassion and Divine favor.

HaRav Aharon Kotler zt”l teaches that during these forty days, even a relatively small effort in Avodas Hashem can accomplish what enormous effort may not accomplish during the rest of the year.

Think about what that means.

Every single day of Elul is a precious, once-a-year opportunity.

Hashem is giving us a special period in which closeness is more accessible, growth is more attainable, and even our small steps carry extraordinary power. These are days to treasure — a magnificent gift from Hashem, inviting us to come closer.

How can we possibly allow such a gift to pass by unused?

Let us strengthen our Avodas Hashem wherever we can: Torah, Tefilah, chesed, tzedakah, refining our middos, improving our relationships with others, strengthening our emunah and bitachon, and becoming more conscious of Hashem throughout our day.

But our growth should not look exactly like anyone else’s.

Each of us has unique strengths, unique challenges, and a unique mission. Our Elul should therefore be tailored specifically to who we are and where we are.

As Shlomo HaMelech teaches:

בְּכָל דְּרָכֶיךָ דָעֵהוּ וְהוּא יְיַשֵּׁר אֹרְחֹתֶיךָ.

“In all your ways know Him, and He will straighten your paths.”

(Mishlei 3:6)

בְּכָל דְּרָכֶיךָ — in all your ways.

Bring Hashem into your life, your circumstances, your strengths, your challenges, and your path.

Perhaps this is why Perek 27 accompanies us, day after day, twice a day, throughout this remarkable season.

Again and again we say:

אַחַת שָׁאַלְתִּי — There is ultimately one thing I seek.

Behind all our tefilos, all our mitzvos, all our growth, and even all the blessings we ask Hashem to give us lies one magnificent, unifying goal:

To live with Hashem.

To feel cared for by Hashem.

To grow closer to Hashem.

To make Hashem increasingly present in every part of our lives.

Dveikus.

The days ahead are an extraordinary gift of rachamim and ratzon — compassion and favor. Hashem is opening the door and giving us an opportunity for closeness that comes only once a year.

Let us cherish every one of these precious days — and use them to come closer and closer to Him.