The Fool in the Mirror
Now who is that fool? Very many of us. Because even though we want to be better, the road seems to be too steep and too long to traverse. And so, we stumble into the new year. Even if we think in terms of changing our ways, we give up or push it off; we procrastinate and stumble.
But Mishlei is telling us here that there is a way forward. ֹ̇וו¿ˆƒמ חַּ ̃ƒי – Grab onto some things that you can do. Of course we’d like to learn the whole Chovos Halevavos. We’d like to learn Mesillas Yesharim and Sha'arei Teshuvah and the Kuzari and the Rambam Hilchos Deos and Hilchos Teshuvah. Very good. But right now, ָּ ̇¿סַפָּ ̇ טָﬠּמו ָּ ̇¿סַפָּ ̇ — let’s grab onto something. Right now, on the Day of Judgement, when we’re standing in front of the King, that’s the time to be a yikach mitzvos, to grab on to a few things and to resolve to hold on to them tightly all year long.
After all, you’re asking Him for a big favor—you want another year. Let's say you come and ask somebody for a big favor and you're not giving him any kind of remuneration to make it desirable he should grant that favor to you. That’s not the way. And therefore we’ll come to Hakadosh Baruch Hu with the resolve that this year is going to be a different year. And that’s an excellent way to approach the King on Rosh Hashanah, and then to stand before Him in service all year long. And just because of that רָּ ̇¿לַ‡¿ל ם∆כ¿ּלוּכוּמו≈ ָ̇ח≈ ̇¿וּבו≈ ָּ̇כƒּ ̇ הָבֹטו הָנָׁ ̆¿ליםƒרוּמו¿ּ‚ יםƒ ̃יƒּ„ַˆ ל∆ׁ ̆ ןָר¿פַס¿ּב יםƒבֹטו יםƒּיַח¿ל.
Have a Good Shabbos and a Ksivah Vachasimah Tovah
