October 20th, 2017 30 Tishrei, 5778 In Israel, the phrase acharei hachaggaim is uttered for at least a good 2 months. Its a phrase that means 'after the holidays,' and is used by nearly everyone, religious or not, to reflect an understanding that t
October 20th, 2017 30 Tishrei, 5778
In Israel, the phrase acharei hachaggaim is uttered for at least a good 2 months. It’s a phrase that means 'after the holidays,' and is used by nearly everyone, religious or not, to reflect an understanding that the holidays consume so much of life, that everything else will just have to wait. We are now in acharei hachaggim - after the holidays - and there is simultaneously a feeling of slowing down, but also a feeling of excitement as we get into the rhythm of regular life - classes I’m teaching, regular 5-day work weeks, regular Shabbat services. This week has marked a transition from the excitement of a month full of holidays to normal routine.
This Shabbat is also Rosh Hodesh Cheshvan, which is a calendrical marker of getting into a sense of normalcy. The month of Cheshvan is infamously known for having absolutely nothing special about it. There are no holidays, not even any minor fast days, nothing in particular to note that happens during the month of Cheshvan.
I like to think of Cheshvan as a useful spiritual practice: Seek to find holiness amidst the mundane; Infuse regular, routine life with meaning. Cheshvan is a reminder that we don’t necessary need big holidays to bring us joy; we can find it in our normal lives as well. May the month ahead be one that brings each of us joy and gratitude. Perhaps, despite it’s not-so-special nature, there is something special about the month of Cheshvan after all.
