With Elul comes a certain reverence that hopefully generates a positive change in our behavior. Does Judaism have any suggestion as to how to make the impact of Elul longer lasting?

There is a special chapter of Psalms that we recite twice a day throughout the month of Elul: לדוד ה' אורי. It is David's special prayer that speaks of his longing to come close to G-d. In this prayer David asks - "שבתי בבית ה' כל ימי חיי" - "allow me to dwell in the House of G-d all the days of my life." Several lines later David then asks: "ולבקר בהיכלו" - "and visit His Sanctuary." The great ethicist of the 20th Century, Rabbi Chaim Shmuelevitz asks is David requesting to dwell in G-d's presence or is David asking to visit G-d's presence? Rav Shemulevitz answers that David is asking to constantly stay in proximity to G-d, but with awesome experiences comes a desensitization and therefore David is asking to retain the feeling of this awesome encounter just as a visitor would feel.

Rav Eliyahu Dessler suggests that this is the reason why we are not supposed to stare at the hands of the Kohen while he is doing the Priestly Blessing. In the times of the Temple, the Shechina would descend upon the Priests as they would bless the congregation. Staring at this holiness would desensitize us to this awesomeness and therefore, argues Rav Dessler, needs to curbed.

This then is Judaism's suggestion for Elul - we must seek ways to renew our spiritual experiences. We must find fresh ways to encounter the Divine. We must live with Holiness, but feel as though we are visiting for the first time.