Climbing the Right Mountain

We’ve all heard of rock bottom — when a person loses everything and only then realizes it’s time to change. But Parshat Shoftim warns of another danger that’s spoken about far less.

When you spend so much time climbing the mountain of success — money, fame, luxury — only to reach the top and realize it’s empty.
You have everything you thought you wanted… and yet, you feel nothing.

What the Torah Warns Us

In Parshat Shoftim, the Torah addresses this head-on.

A king, the man who seemingly has it all, is commanded:

“Do not have too many horses. Do not have too many wives. Do not amass too much gold and silver.”

Why?

Because the human heart never stops craving more.

As the Malbim explains on Mishlei (27:20):

“The eyes of man are never satisfied.”

The Diminishing Returns of Pleasure

It’s true. Physical pleasure has a ceiling.

That first bite of a juicy steak? Amazing.
The second steak? Still good.
By the third or fourth… you may not want to look at another steak for a bit.

The more you indulge, the less it means.

But Spirituality Works the Opposite Way

With Torah, with connection to Hashem — the more you taste, the deeper it gets.
Every step forward brings more meaning, more enjoyment, not less.

Instead of emptiness, there’s expansion.
Instead of fading, there’s fire.

Why Shoftim Begins Elul

This is exactly why Shoftim always falls at the start of Elul.

Elul is the month of return.

It’s Hashem’s gentle reminder:
Stop chasing the wrong mountain. Start climbing the right one.

The Real Meaning of Teshuva

Teshuva doesn’t just mean repentance.
It means return — to your source, to Hashem, to the only path that leads to real, lasting fulfillment.

Don’t wait to hit rock bottom.
Don’t waste years chasing cliff top.

The Torah is saving you time.
It’s pointing you to the only road that never runs out of meaning:
The road back to Hashem.

Your Next Step: The Elul Reset

If you’re looking for a place to start — to reset your mindset, reconnect with yourself and with Hashem, and walk into Rosh Hashana with strength and clarity…

That’s exactly what the Elul Reset was created for.

👉 Join me for the 7-day Elul Reset — short daily Torah lessons, journaling prompts, and practical exercises to help you realign with your true path and enter the Yamim Noraim with confidence.