In My Humble Jewish Opinion...

No Matter What Time of Year...

No matter what time of year, we are always working on ourselves. G-d wants us to be on our best behavior at all times.
I'll begin in Elul-you're working your way up to Rosh Hashana, so of course you're gonna behave yourself.
Until then, it's Yom Kippur.
Then they say that Shmini Atzeres is the final sealing. So you're still good throughout Succos and beyond.
Then there must be something about Chanuka that I haven't learned yet. Because Purim is is the essence, since Yom Kippur is "Yom Kipurim"--A day LIKE Purim. So that oughta keep you. From then, you're building yourself up for yetzias Mitzrayim. One of my brothers once mentioned in his Dvar Torah on Seder Night that a person is on his highest Medreiga (level) at the Seder.
Then, you are preparing yourself for Kabbalas HaTorah--accepting the Torah.
After that, you're on good behavior until you get to Tisha B'Av....and then you're basically back where we started-getting ready for Rosh Hashana.
So, the truth is, there is no time to fool around. Just be good all the time. Don't think, "I'll sin now and be forgiven for it later." There's no time for that. So, let's ALL do teshuva and be good Jews so that we can finally be redeemed!!

PS if you know a reason to work on yourself in anticipation of Chanuka, please post it. Thanks.

posted by Michelle @ 4:31 PM