First, let's dispose of a little semantic issue. The word "coincidence" comes from the word "incident" - something that happens - and the prefix "co-" - meaning with or simultaneously. A "coincidence" has come to mean "two things happening together by chance," but it really means "two things happening together." And since nothing happens by chance, but rather, by Divine supervision, if two things occur together, there's a reason or inner connection for that "coincidence." 
Chai (the 18th of) Elul is the birthday of both the Baal Shem Tov, the founder of Chasidism, and of Rabbi Shneur Zalman, the founder of Chabad Chasidism. Chai Elul always occurs in close proximity to the Shabbat on which we read the Torah portion of Tavo. This year, Chai Elul occurs on Shabbat. This "coincidence" highlights the inner connection between them.
The word Tavo means "you will come," and refers to entering and settling the land of Israel.
For an entrance to be a true "coming in," one must enter completely. As the Sages express it, "a partial entrance is not an entrance." We have not entered a house when we have one foot over the threshold and the other outside. Even if the heel of the foot remains outside, we haven't truly entered.
So when the Torah portion begins Ki Tavo - "when you will come" - it means a complete entrance of all the Jewish people, that is, when the unity of the Jewish people is such that each and every one of them is settled, established on his portion of the land of Israel.
This concept of a complete entrance connects the Tavo with Chai Elul. Chasidism, revealed through the Baal Shem Tov and Rabbi Shneur Zalman whose birthdays are on Chai Elul, established that living Jewishly should be done in a manner of tavo - of a complete entrance into the essence of the person.
Through the study of Chasidic philosophy, we learn how to enter into Judaism and how to have Judaism enter into us.
It's never too early (or too late!) to prepare for the upcoming High Holiday season. Attend a class at Merkos On Campus, study on-line (check out meaningfullife.com, chabad.org, inner.org...), read a book written in light of Chasidic philosophy (like Toward a Meaningful Life by Rabbi Simon Jacobson, Torah Studies by chief rabbi of England Jonathan Sacks, Bringing Heaven Down to Earth by Rabbi Tzvi Freeman, Opening the Tanya by Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, to name a few).
And know, that in addition to enabling yourself to enter and settle the land of Israel in a spiritual sense, you are also aiding the entire Jewish people to enter and settle the land in a real sense, by hastening the coming (tavo) of Moshiach. At that time, "the world will be filled with knowledge of G-d" in such a complete manner that we will have the permanent entrance of the Divine Presence in the world, eternally.
Kesiva Vechasima Toivo Leshono Toivo Umesuko
May You Be Written and Sealed Positively For a Good and Sweet Year!
Best Wishes and Gut Shabbos
Chai (the 18th of) Elul is the birthday of both the Baal Shem Tov, the founder of Chasidism, and of Rabbi Shneur Zalman, the founder of Chabad Chasidism. Chai Elul always occurs in close proximity to the Shabbat on which we read the Torah portion of Tavo. This year, Chai Elul occurs on Shabbat. This "coincidence" highlights the inner connection between them.
The word Tavo means "you will come," and refers to entering and settling the land of Israel.
For an entrance to be a true "coming in," one must enter completely. As the Sages express it, "a partial entrance is not an entrance." We have not entered a house when we have one foot over the threshold and the other outside. Even if the heel of the foot remains outside, we haven't truly entered.
So when the Torah portion begins Ki Tavo - "when you will come" - it means a complete entrance of all the Jewish people, that is, when the unity of the Jewish people is such that each and every one of them is settled, established on his portion of the land of Israel.
This concept of a complete entrance connects the Tavo with Chai Elul. Chasidism, revealed through the Baal Shem Tov and Rabbi Shneur Zalman whose birthdays are on Chai Elul, established that living Jewishly should be done in a manner of tavo - of a complete entrance into the essence of the person.
Through the study of Chasidic philosophy, we learn how to enter into Judaism and how to have Judaism enter into us.
It's never too early (or too late!) to prepare for the upcoming High Holiday season. Attend a class at Merkos On Campus, study on-line (check out meaningfullife.com, chabad.org, inner.org...), read a book written in light of Chasidic philosophy (like Toward a Meaningful Life by Rabbi Simon Jacobson, Torah Studies by chief rabbi of England Jonathan Sacks, Bringing Heaven Down to Earth by Rabbi Tzvi Freeman, Opening the Tanya by Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, to name a few).
And know, that in addition to enabling yourself to enter and settle the land of Israel in a spiritual sense, you are also aiding the entire Jewish people to enter and settle the land in a real sense, by hastening the coming (tavo) of Moshiach. At that time, "the world will be filled with knowledge of G-d" in such a complete manner that we will have the permanent entrance of the Divine Presence in the world, eternally.
Kesiva Vechasima Toivo Leshono Toivo Umesuko
May You Be Written and Sealed Positively For a Good and Sweet Year!
Best Wishes and Gut Shabbos
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