1.   The blessing for the month of Elul is generated on Shabbos Mevarchim Elul when the theme of Elul begins. At the time of Mashiach our state of Divine service will be greatly uplifted, now, too, we may have a sense of the freedom of Mashiach’s times. The joy of a mitzvah is a supreme act of Divine worship and we must approach the Divine service of Elul with joy.

2.   The shofar sounds the reveille call to awaken us to return to G‑d. One who seems to be outside the context of Torah and mitzvos must only be awakened and he will be able to relate to Torah and mitzvos.

3.   Seeing the image of your teacher makes your “work” easier. Those who saw the Previous Rebbe in life can picture his likeness in their minds and all obstacles will disappear. Those who did not see him in life can conjure his image based on clear pictures.

4.   Rabbi Yehoshua b. Korcha lived to a very old age because he did not gaze at the face of wicked man. He also taught the importance of seeing and feeling the plight of the needy.

5.   After the elaborate preparations for the Yom Kippur service in the Temple by the Kohen Gadol, when it was all over, he went directly home. This shows us that he had to carry the holiness back into the corporeality of his home.