A Chassidic tradition holds that the last twelve days of the year (Elul 18 to 29) are parallel to the twelve months of the closing year. On each of these twelve days, a person is given another chance to review the deeds and achievements of the corresponding month:
- Elul 18 – cheshbon nefesh for the month of Tishrei (5781)
- Elul 19 – cheshbon nefesh for the month of Cheshvan (5781)
- Elul 20 – cheshbon nefesh for the month of Kislev (5781)
- Elul 21 – cheshbon nefesh for the month of Tevet (5781)
- Elul 22 – cheshbon nefesh for the month of Shevat (5781)
- Elul 23 – cheshbon nefesh for the month of Adar (5781)
- Elul 24 – cheshbon nefesh for the month of Nisan (5781)
- Elul 25 – cheshbon nefesh for the month of Iyar (5781)
- Elul 26 – cheshbon nefesh for the month of Sivan (5781)
- Elul 27 – cheshbon nefesh for the month of Tammuz (5781)
- Elul 28 – cheshbon nefesh for the month of Av (5781)
- Elul 29 (Eve of Rosh ha-Shanah) – cheshbon nefesh for the month of Elul (5781).
This tradition reminds us that Elul, the last month of the Jewish year, is a month devoted to stocktaking and introspection – “cheshbon nefesh”.
In his recollection of his time in Lubavitch, the Rebbe Rayatz, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, offers a poetic description of this time of the year:
“Though summer still lingered and the day was bright and sunny, there was a change in the air. One smelled already the Elul-scent; a teshuvah-wind was blowing. Everyone grew more serious, more thoughtful… All awaited the call of the shofar, the first blast that would announce the opening of the gates of the month of mercy…”. (Likutei Diburim vol. 1 pg 153-154).
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