22 Aug ELUL IS A BONANZA OF OPPORTUNITIES

The month of Elul is
an extraordinary time
of opportunity and
investment. Firstly, it is
the last month of the year
and we have a Talmudic
rule that, “Hakol
holeich achar hachasom – Everything is
determined by the finale.” So, we can
greatly upgrade the entire year of 5783
with enhanced behavior during this
month. Furthermore, as the Chofetz
Chaim, zt”l, zy”a, says in the Mishnah
Berurah to the preface of siman 581, our
repentance is more favorably accepted
during the month of Elul. This is because
it was on Rosh Chodesh Elul that Moshe
Rabbeinu went up to shomayim to
achieve atonement for Klal Yisroel for
the sin of the golden calf. Ever since
then, this fabric of time is most suitable
to achieve repentance.
The name Elul is of Babylonian origin.
What does it mean? Rav Shlomo
Zalman Auerbach, zt”l, zy”a, reveals
that when the posuk says, “V’yasuru
es eretz Canaan – To investigate the

land of Canaan,” the Targum Onkelos
translates it in Aramaic as, “V’yalalun
yas ara.” Thus, he says the word Elul,
which is at the root of v’yalalun, means
to investigate and to search. This, he
concludes, is the ultimate task of Elul:
To make a chesbon hanefesh, a personal
accounting, to investigate all of our
deeds to see what needs improvement.
The Chida and the Kaf HaChaim sing
the praises of a man or a woman who
takes the time and the honest effort to
search their ways. They say that such a
person receives the honorific of a morei
d’chushbina, a master of reevaluation.
This pursuit in itself achieves for one a
great protection for, in Bereishis Rabbah,
it teaches us that one who makes such
an honest accounting will be protected
from Divine judgement. As the Medrash
says, “Im yeish din lamata, ein din
l’mala,” meaning if we make a personal
accounting below, then Hashem doesn’t
need to inspect us from above.”
How does one go about making a
cheshbon hanefesh? I like to recommend
that one should start from the moment

they wake up and go through their
day systematically, from beginning to
end. For example, one should start all
the way at the beginning. What’s the
first thing one does when opening up
their eyes? Every good Jew should
start their day with the declaration of,
“Modeh ani lifonecha…” This praise
deliberately omits Hashem’s Name so
that we can proclaim it even before we
wash negel vasser and our hands are yet
still tomei. Unlike so many who wake up
to hear what the Yankees did last night or
where the Dow Jones is holding, our first
thought is gratitude to Hashem. You’d
be surprised how many Torah Jews are
not in the habit to start their day this way.
If you are remiss, don’t feel bad. This is
just an opportunity to improve.
After all, all of us want the next year of
5784 not just to be another year but to be a
better year. We want better health, better
wealth, better friends, better shalom
bayis, better, better, better! Hashem,
Who loves us, surely wants to grant it to
us. However, He expects us to tell Him
how we are going to be better. After all,
it’s only fair if we want better that
we have to demonstrate concretely in
what ways we are going to be better.
So we make a cheshbon hanefesh to
fashion a To-Do-Better list that we
bring with us to Rosh Hashanah and
Yom Kippur to make our case for a
better new year.
After modeh ani, take a look at how
we wash our hands and whether we
are doing it correctly, liberally and
up to the wrist, starting with the right
hand and doing it alternately at least
three times. We should clean our
mouths in preparation of prayer, we
wash our faces to polish the bust of
Hashem, our tzelem Elokim, and
to look pleasant for Hashem, our
spouse, and our fellow man. Are
we careful to make the al netilas
yada’im, asher yotzar and Elokai
neshamah after that? Then, we’re
on to say reishis chochmah, to make
the bracha on our tallis katan, then
to greet our spouse lovingly or, if
they’re still sleeping, not to wake
them up. Do we look at, or kiss our
bedroom mezuzah meaningfully
when we exit to start our day? If we
have a coffee, do we say a shehakol
and borei nefashos meaningfully and
thankfully?

As we go to shul, do we try to come to
a minyan where we could say the entire
davening or do we come in the middle
to cut corners and cut out as quickly
as possible? Do we wrap ourselves in
our tallis having in mind that we would
really like to perform all the 613 mitzvos,
for tzitzis is the equivalent of all 613?
When we put on our tefillin, do we think
about Hashem’s outstretched arm in
Egypt? Do we remember its subliminal
message, that we should learn Torah
today? Do we bind our heart and our
mind in loyal service to Hashem? Do
we say our prayers with the thought that
they really can make a difference on
whether we succeed or fail at our daily
pursuits? When we leave shul and go
out into the world, are we on the lookout
for opportunities to make a Kiddush
Hashem? Are we practicing our craft
with honesty and integrity? This is the
way that we should go through the rest
of our day until Krias Shema al hamitah
and the bracha of hamapil.
In the merit of making an honest and
blunt cheshbon hanefesh and following
up with improvement, may Hashem
bless us all with long life, good health,
and everything wonderful.