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Holidays

Building the Soul

B”H

The Building of the Sukkah

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”

– Ecclesiastes 3:11, JPS 1917 Tanach

During the first ten days of the new year on the Hebrew calendar, we are preoccupied with tikkun hanefesh, renewal of the soul. Throughout those days, our teshuvah is meant to foster a reconciliation between us and G-d. Our tefillah (prayer) serves to remind us of the continuous connection possible, when we focus on Him. Our tsedokah, acts of charity, sustain the intent of diminishing ourselves, by way of being considerate of others. All three teshuvah, tefillah, and tsedokah, specifically, during this time, might influence the course of the year ahead of us for the good, by appealing to H’Shem’s Attribute of Mercy. After the neilah service, at the end of Yom Kippur, we are sealed in regard to the amount of blessings and curses, so to speak, that we will receive, throughout the rest of the year.

Now, that we have made our best efforts to start off the new year on the right foot, we begin building a sukkah, in preparation of the holiday of Sukkot. This is essentially the first constructive activity of the new year, aside from the reconstruction of our souls that have kept us busy, traditionally, throughout the month of Elul, and the ten days of awe. The sukkah is understood as symbolic of the Clouds of Glory that sheltered us in the wilderness for forty years. We are reminded of the nature of our own existence, without all of the extra amenities that we attach to ourselves.

Yet, for those of us who are not able to construct a sukkah in our backyards, or on our balconies, or rooftops, how might we spend these days, until the actual holiday begins? This might be an even more crucial question to address, when many of us have much time to occupy. Even so, simply “occupying time” may be in direct contrast to “occupying space,” something the sukkah allows us to do once built. How may we reckon time between Yom Kippur and Sukkot? The issue at hand is the maintenance of a sacred perspective: if we have been making our best effort to improve ourselves, through tikkun hanefesh, then the maintenance of the soul should continue to be emphasized in our lives. Thus, in doing so, we may also occupy our neshama (soul), instead of neglecting that essential aspect of ourselves.

Akin to building a sukkah, perhaps, symbolically, this may also be likened to restructuring our lives to be more in accord with godly pursuits, as opposed to anything that may not enhance our lives, or even take us further away from our spiritual aspirations (G-d forbid). The key intent of the various means prescribed to bring in the new year may very well be the spiritual recharge that will keep us on the derech (path). So, we may hope to preserve the sanctity of our lives throughout the entire new year, sparking a renewal that will continue to refresh our souls as the days, weeks, and months ahead of us are lived out with sacred intention.

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Holidays

Yom Kippur Blues

B”H

Yom Kippur Blues

by Tzvi Fievel Schnee

As Yom Kippur approaches, these Days of Awe, between the start of the new year, and the day of atonement can be described as an interim period, wherein we still have time to rectify our soul (tikkun hanefesh) as the door is still open to receive our acts of teshuvah, tefillah, and tsedokah. How we focus on our derech (walk) with G-d, during these days, will set the tone of our reconciliation with Him, that will continue to grow throughout the year. Yet, we need to put our best foot forward.

Too often, we are caught up in gashmios (materialism), neglecting our connection with the Creator of this world. How unfortunate that everything the world has to offer us seems more important than the One who placed everything in the world for our benefit, not for our entertainment. We have a responsibility to avdah ul’shamrah (serve and observe). We are to serve G-d, and observe His commandments.

Yet, there are many distractions in this world, that may throw us off course. The original blueprint of the world, along with its corresponding guidelines for proper maintenance are lost in the din of modernity. And, time passes, taking its toll on our collective memory, shared heritage, and common ancestry. New gods arise every century to steal our allegiance away from the only Source of our Life, Who deserves our devotion, gratitude, and praise, more than any human being, man made utopia, or political movement.

On Shabbat Shuvah, the shabbos between Rosh HaShannah and Yom Kippur, we are called to further evaluate our lives, taking into consideration, that all of the negative aspects of ourselves, may be changed for the good. We have the opportunity to do so, especially for the sake of our renewed commitment to G-d, life, and our fellow human being. Now is the time, perhaps, more than any other during the year, to expand our horizons in regard to our individual potential to improve ourselves. This year, with all of the challenges that are still upon us, may be seen with new eyes, a fresh perspective, and an expanded awareness that transcends our limitations.

Avinu Malkeinu (Our Father, Our King)
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Holidays

Rosh HaShannah 5781

Photo by Igal Ness on Unsplash

B”H

Abraham Twerski, a Jewish rabbi and psychiatrist writes, concerning the basic premises of what spirituality means for all human beings, “When people consciously reflect on themselves, they are being spiritual, and when they make a conscious effort to improve themselves, they are being spiritual” (Twerski, The Spiritual Self). This is good to keep in mind for all of us, who will be aware of the deeper import of Rosh HaShannah, as far as our own efforts to improve ourselves are focused upon at this time on the Hebrew calendar.

For myself, I can say nothing very positive concerning my own efforts, so far, during the Hebrew month of Elul to prepare myself for Yom HaDin (the Day of Judgment). How many of us are cognizant of this phrase, denoting another name for Rosh HaShannah? Perhaps, most of us simply think of the Holy Day as the beginning of the new year on the Hebrew calendar. Yet, the significance goes way beyond common conceptions.

This Elul, as well as Rosh HaShannah itself, has the potential to acquire double the impact, than preceding years. With the extra time that may be available for many of us to reflect even more this year, because of the wisdom of sheltering in place as much as possible, we have the opportunity to change ourselves, in direct proportion to the amount of time we are able to cease from external activity, in order to enact heshbon hanefesh (literally, an accounting of the soul).

So, I ask myself, will I be facing the King on Rosh HaShannah in fear and trepidation, feeling as if I did not make the most of my opportunities on a daily basis, during the month of Elul to judge myself and do teshuvah (repentance), ahead of time, so that on Yom Din, I will not be judged disfavorably? Or, will I stand in awe and reverence, before H’Shem on the Day of Judgment, in acknowledgment that I did my best to search my soul, confess my sins, and ask forgiveness, even before approaching Him, when the court is in session?

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