Yom HaKippurim 5787, 2026: "The Journey from Elul to Yom HaKippurim"

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Rabbi David Etengoff


ה' יעזור וירחם על אחינו כל בני ישראל בארץ ישראל ובכל חלקי הארץ
 
We have been on a spiritual journey since Rosh Chodesh Elul. This month enables us to focus upon what is false and what is real and pursue matters of ultimate spiritual import. In an almost palpable sense, it prepares us for the awe-filled days of Rosh Hashanah when we once again crown Hashem as King of the Universe and redouble our teshuvah efforts in anticipation of Yom HaKippurim. Before we encounter Hashem on at this time, however, we must encounter ourselves and become “accountants of the spirit.”

In general terms, an accountant is an individual who helps us make intelligently conceived financially-based resource allocation decisions. By extension, when we act as accountants of the spirit, our individual and collective task is to determine the best way to apportion our innermost religious resources. This, in turn, requires that we engage in cheshbon hanefesh (spiritual inventory), the ultimate act of Torah accountancy.

We are fortunate that one of the greatest masters of Jewish Ethical Literature (Mussar), the Italian thinker Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzato (1707-1746, known as the “Mesilat Yesharim” after the title of his most famous work), enables us to understand the constitutive elements of Judaism’s introspection process. He notes that an individual must: “... observe all of his actions and watch over all of his ways.” It is only when we subject the totality of our behaviors to meticulous scrutiny that we will free ourselves from “... a bad habit or a bad trait, let alone a sin or a crime.” This accounting must be both daily and exact “... in the manner of the great merchants who constantly evaluate all of their undertakings so that they [their business ventures] do not miscarry.” Additionally, contemplative analysis must be done in a highly disciplined manner and with ongoing consistency: “He should set aside definite times and hours for this weighing so that it is not a fortuitous matter, but one that is conducted with the greatest regularity; for it yields rich returns.” What are the “rich returns” that will accrue as a result of this depth-level self-examination? Here, too, Rav Luzzato enlightens us: “After engaging in such a reflection he will come to consider whether or not his deeds travel along the proper path. For in doing so it will certainly be easy for him to cleanse himself of all evil and to correct his ways.” (Mesilat Yesharim, translation, Rabbi Shraga Simmons, pages 31 and 37)

Yom HaKippurim is the preeminent time to return to the path of serving Hashem and devotion to His mitzvot. As Yermiyahu the prophet declared so long ago, “Return us to You Hashem so that we may return! Renew our days as of old.” (Megillat Eichah 5:21, translation, with my emendations, The Judaica Press Complete Tanach) With HaKadosh Baruch Hu’s help, may this be so. V’chane yihi ratzon.
 
Shabbat Shalom and G’mar Chatimah Tovah.
 
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