Parshas
Shemos begins a period of the year known as Shovevim which lasts
until Parshas Mishpatim. There are three periods of Teshuva in the
Jewish year; the month of Elul, Shovevim and Sefirah. These periods
are not repetitious.
Elul is inventory time – we take stock of our behavior and seek areas where we can better ourselves. The focus during Sefirah is improving character, which is the basis for all of our behavior.
During the six weeks of Shovevim we focus on eliminating the negative spiritual affect of whatever wrong we have attempted to correct in Elul. The dirt is gone, but now we have to contend with the stain.
A person seeking to grow will find that even though he has changed his behavior, a materialistic drive still affects his mindset and emotions. Many years ago righteous individuals would self-afflict in order to subdue unwanted physical passions. However, the Baal Shem Tov strongly discouraged people from engaging in self-affliction. The logic was, “You damaged your soul. Must you now destroy your body?”
But we are left with our original problem; how can we turn ourselves into more spiritual people? The solution lies in performing difficult, but doable acts. A common example of this is to learn Torah for specific stretches of time without interrupting, be it five minutes or five hours. Giving time, money or a smile to others when it is hard to do so also serves the same purpose as does putting effort into a davening when we are “not in the mood.”
Elul is inventory time – we take stock of our behavior and seek areas where we can better ourselves. The focus during Sefirah is improving character, which is the basis for all of our behavior.
During the six weeks of Shovevim we focus on eliminating the negative spiritual affect of whatever wrong we have attempted to correct in Elul. The dirt is gone, but now we have to contend with the stain.
A person seeking to grow will find that even though he has changed his behavior, a materialistic drive still affects his mindset and emotions. Many years ago righteous individuals would self-afflict in order to subdue unwanted physical passions. However, the Baal Shem Tov strongly discouraged people from engaging in self-affliction. The logic was, “You damaged your soul. Must you now destroy your body?”
But we are left with our original problem; how can we turn ourselves into more spiritual people? The solution lies in performing difficult, but doable acts. A common example of this is to learn Torah for specific stretches of time without interrupting, be it five minutes or five hours. Giving time, money or a smile to others when it is hard to do so also serves the same purpose as does putting effort into a davening when we are “not in the mood.”
