* Translated by Janine Muller Sherr
It’s happening. This coming Motzai Shabbat marks the start of Rosh Chodesh Elul 5785 — a month of repair, introspection, and repentance in preparation for the New Year.
I once heard Rabbi Mark Wildes give a beautiful explanation of the days ahead. He called this period “The Forty-Day Challenge” since there are 40 days between Rosh Chodesh Elul and Yom Kippur. The Chasidic masters taught that it takes 40 days to change a character trait or to internalize a new habit.
In that spirit, I urge you to take on one specific challenge for the next 40 days, and to treat these days as a workshop for character building. Think of one trait or habit that you would like to change about yourself. Decide on one small, positive change and implement it over the next 40 days - from now until Yom Kippur.
For thousands of years, this period has been designated as a time of forgiveness, reconciliation, and new beginnings. It was during this time that Moshe Rabbeinu ascended to Mount Sinai after the sin of the golden calf and the breaking of the tablets, and came down 40 days later holding a second set of new, unbroken tablets in his hands. He returned to the people with a message that echoes until the present day: God forgives our sins. It is possible to repair the shattered pieces and to grow from crisis, and this is the most fitting time of the year to begin that process.
In anticipation of the upcoming year, we are given this special opportunity, over the next 40 days, to engage in personal stock-taking and to decide upon one area of personal renewal - one aspect of ourselves that we would like to change or improve.
What will be your Forty-Day Challenge? I invite you think about it and to encourage others to participate in this transformational journey.
Shabbat Shalom.
