Summer is over, September is here, and Rosh Hashanah and Yom
Kippur lie just around the bend.
During this time of preparation for those Days of Awe, our
tradition enjoins us to take a kind of spiritual accounting of ourselves, known
as cheshbon nefesh. We reflect upon the year gone by, consider
our failings, and focus our energy on how we can do better in the coming
year.
While most of us have erred many times and in many ways,
Rabbi Shraga Simmons cautions us against attempting to change too much, too
quickly. He suggests: “Don't try to conquer too many things at once;
it may be too overwhelming. Instead, choose the areas that cut closest to the
root of your problems. This will maximize your success in the teshuvah process.”
I would add that even as we
examine and amend our shortcomings, we should also recognize and build upon our
strengths and successes. This can help
us move forward with confidence. Below,
you will find a copy of a prayer that affirms our healing acts of the past
year. It is a nice supplement to the
traditional “Al Cheyt” recitation of our transgressions. By focusing up and acknowledging both our
moral failures and successes—one or two at a time—we can each make significant
progress in the coming new year, 5773.
L’shanah tovah,
Rabbi Dan
God our
Creator and Guide, Let us speak now of the healing acts by which we bring You
into the world, the acts of repair that make You a living presence in our
lives:
Ál ha-tikkún she-tikánu l’fanécha. . .
For the act of
healing we have done openly or anonymously and for the act of repair we have
done without personal gain
For the act of
healing we have done by seeking forgiveness and for the act of repair we have
done by forgiving others
For the act of
healing we have done through righteous giving and for the act of repair we have
done by opening our hearts
For the act of
healing we have done by comforting the mourner and visiting the sick and for
the act of repair we have done by pursuing justice and human rights, fairness
and civility
For the act of
healing we have done by making peace between one person and another and for the
act of repair we have done by protecting nature and all its creatures
For the act of
healing we have done by teaching our children the ways of peace and for the act
of repair we have done by teaching our children the ways of Torah
For the act of
healing we have done by honoring elders and loving the stranger
For the act of
repair we have done in response to Your commandment: choose life and blessing
And all these
bring nearer the day when You shall be One and Your name shall be One.
