What Hashem Really Loves

Do you want to know something Hashem really loves? The answer is: you.

Hashem loves when we learn Torah and do mitzvos — He loves our divine service. But even more than that, He loves the essence of the Jewish people themselves.

When we reveal our true self — which is what teshuvah means, returning to our essence — Hashem takes pleasure in the Jew himself or herself.

Torah and mitzvos are very special, but that is, so to speak, a limited pleasure for Hashem. When we do teshuvah and reveal our G-dly essence, Hashem takes pleasure in the essence of us — an even higher pleasure.

And this is what Elul is all about.