Preparing for the High Holy Days: A Spiritual Guide

by Rabbi Michael Calise Proper Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance 1. Reection I believe any successful endeavor begins with reection. As it pertains to the High Holy Days, we should reect on the past year assessing the spiritual aspects of our lives. I remember the days of old, reecting on all your deeds, thinking about the work of your hands. (Tehillim 143:5) Examine me, G-d, and know my heart; test me, and know my thoughts. See if there is in me any hurtful way, and lead me along the eternal way. (Tehillim 139:23-24) 2. Target areas for growth As we ask the Ruach to examine us and search us, we can begin to target areas in our lives both spiritual and natural that we need to grow in. So, do your homework over the next several weeks. No prolonged infancies among us, please. Well not tolerate babes in the woods, small children who are an easy mark for impostors. G-d wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in lovelike Messiah in everything. We take our lead from Messiah, who is the source of everything we do. He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and blood ow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in G-d, robust in love. (Eph 4:14-16 MSG) 3. Ready yourself for change (repentance). I believe that true repentance comes after we have honestly considered our ways and then come to grips with the fact that things need to change in our lives. Think about your life..Here is what Adonai Tzvaot says: Think about your life! (Haggai 1) ... [All people] should repent, turn to G-d, and do works betting repentance. Acts 26:19-20) Therefore, repent and turn to G-d, so that your sins may be erased (Acts 3:19)

4. Meditate on the themes of the Holy Days. Birthday of Creation Remembrance - Yom HaZikkaron - Remember what G-d has done and who He is. A time of hearing the Shofar - Yom Ha-Teruah - A call back to G-d and His ways. A time of Judgement - Yom Ha-Din: the Day of Judgment. The Kingship of G-d. He is King of the world. Atonement provided. Repentance. Confession. Forgiveness. G-d wants to forgive and He does. Mitzvot. Good deeds or acting in love toward others. Joy. Rejoicing in all that G-d has done Zeman Simchteinu

5. Ask G-d to help us have a meaningful spiritual experience. You have not because you ask not! In fact, whatever you ask for in my name, I will do; so that the Father may be gloried in the Son. If you ask me for something in my name, I will do it. (Yochanan 14:13) 6. Be prepared to receive G-ds grace, forgiveness and power to overcome. One crucial element that must be present in order to receive from G-d and that is faith. Faith comes through relationship. So to ensure you are on top of your faith game this High Holiday season, be sure to be prayed up and be consistent in the word of G-d over the next couple of weeks. He said to them, Because you have such little trust! Yes! I tell you that if you have trust as tiny as a mustard seed, you will be able to say to this mountain, Move from here to there! and it will move; indeed, nothing will be impossible for you! (Matt 17:20) 7. Think in terms of the end result of the Holidays which is joy. The purpose for repentance and atonement is for G-ds people to experience the Joy of the Lord and to walk in that joy. G-ds heart for each of us is to experience His joy and to spread that joy to the whole world. So now is a good time to have this in mind and to shoot for this kind of overwhelming joy as the end result of your High Holiday season. You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice in your presence as if rejoicing at harvest time, the way men rejoice when dividing up the spoil. (Yeshayahu 9:2) Dont be sad, because the joy of Adonai is your strength. (Nehemiah 8:9-10)