The Chida (Moreh b'Etzba 298) writes, "After yom tov, in the month of Cheshvan, strengthen your yiras Shamayim and Torah study l'shmah because it is the beginning of the year, and this will be a good sign for the entire year. After all, Cheshvan is close to the Aseres Yemei Teshuvah, and one must demonstrate that his teshuvah was sincere, and not just a show, chas v'shalom. Therefore, make a good siman for the entire year. Run like a warrior to study Torah and to perform mitzvos."
This month is called Mar Cheshvan. The Gemara (Megillah 27:) says that if a person needs the bathroom in the middle of davening, he must wait (the time it takes to walk) four amos before he relieves himself. The Gemara explains that he may not relieve himself immediately after he completes his tefillah because שפוותיה מרחשן, his lips are still moving. After one finishes the tefillah, his heart and kavanah are still on the tefillah; it is like his lips are still moving, so it isn't proper to relieve oneself at this time.
The Ruzhiner said that מרחשון are the same letters as חשון מר. This hints that in Cheshvan, our lips are still moving, and we are inspired by the tefillos and the mitzvos we performed in the previous month of Tishrei.
The Imrei Chaim zt'l compared it to a rolling tire. The tire continues to roll, even after one lets go of it. Similarly, we just experienced a month of tefillos, teshuvah, and requests. Our mouths are accustomed to moving and praying, and even after we stop, the momentum continues. This is the unique reality of Cheshvan. The influence of the holidays is still upon us, and we should allow the momentum to continue.
The Chidushei HaRim zt'l describes the uniqueness of Mar Cheshvan from the pasuk (Tehillim 45:2), טוב דבר לבי רחש, which indicates that in this month, the hearts of the Jewish nation are inspired to perform good deeds. The Maor v'Shamesh (Shemini אל ה"ד) writes that this month "is mesugal to understand Torah, more than all other months."
Cheshvan is also a time to review the kabbalos we undertook for the new year and to try to keep them. It is easy to forget everything we took upon ourselves since it is human nature to revert to old routines.
It states (9:13), ברית לאות והיתה בענן נתתי קשתי את הארץ ובין ביני, "My rainbow I have placed in the cloud, and it shall be for a sign of a covenant between Myself and the earth." This means Hashem designated the rainbow as a sign to remind Him that He won't bring another mabul to the world. It seems strange that Hashem needs a reminder. Doesn’t Hashem remember everything?
Rather, we can explain that the rainbow is a sign and reminder for us. It teaches us that it is proper to make signs to remind us to maintain the boundaries and kabbalos we took on ourselves for the new year.
The teivah had three floors. Rashi (7:16, and Sanhedrin 108:) explains that each floor served its own purpose. ,למדור אמצעים ,לאדם עליונים לזבל תחתיים, "The top floor was for man, the middle floor was for the animals, and the bottom floor for garbage."
We can ask: Why did Noach and his family need to have their own floor? Chazal (Tanchuma 9) tell us that Noach and his family were busy 24/7 tending to the animals. They were probably hardly ever in their living quarters.
We can answer that the top floor was their sign and reminder that they weren’t lowly animals. Because they mingled with the animals for a year, they needed this reminder that they were different; they are people.
Similarly, we must make signs to remind us of the matters that are important to us so we shouldn’t forget what we need to do.
