During these days, one should spend time doing Teshuva and correcting anything that needs to be corrected.
Even a working man should minimize his business during these days and only work as needed. He should spend most of his time studying Torah.
During these days, one should spend time learning the sefarim (holy books) that inspire one to teshuvah (repentance) and/or listening to shiurim (classes) that motivate one to serve G-d better.
It is especially important to rectify sins towards one’s fellow man during this time as Yom Kippur doesn't atone for these sins unless one seeks forgiveness from one's fellow.
One who makes an honest reckoning of his behavior will realize that there are many sins that he may be transgressing regularly. He may have become so habituated to these transgressions that he no longer pays them attention. These may include:
- Praying or saying blessings without kavana (concentration)
- Hatred towards a fellow-Jew
- Anger
- (Men) gazing at women
- Speaking lashon hara (slander) or devarim beteilim (empty words)
- Wasting time that should be spent studying Torah
- Seeking honor
- Embarrassing others
- Not paying workers on the same day (or on the designated payday)
- Flattering the wicked
In addition, one should work on rooting out negative character-traits and lifestyles which are the source of bad behaviors. Specifically, haughtiness, pursuing pleasures, excessive talking, and depression. These are the “fathers of impurity” which produce many “children.”
One should be extra careful about keeping the highest standard of Mitzvot during these days. For example, if one is not normally careful to eat Pat Yisrael (bread baked by a Jewish baker) or Chalav Yisrael (milk that is milked in the presence of a Jew), one should be particular about these matters in these days.
- Some have the exemplary custom of writing down their good resolutions and then checking them the following year to see if they kept them. If they did, they then add another good resolution. In any case, one should bear in mind that these resolutions are without the force of a vow (i.e., bli neder).
- Some have a custom to purchase a beautiful Etrog, Lulav, and Hadassim in these days in order that this be a merit for them on the day of final judgment (Yom Kippur). [If you’re in South Florida, you might check here.]
- It is preferable for the Yeshivot not to give vacation time between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur as this time is best spent studying Torah.
- Throughout the Aseret Yemai Teshuva we recite Avinu Malkeinu (Siddur pg. 454) in Shacharit and Mincha.
