Women's League

As we prepare for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, we have the opportunity to start with a clean slate, examining the previous year to motivate ourselves to a more spiritually fulfilling future. This is called the Cheshbon Ha-Nefesh, or “accounting of the soul.” We are accountable for our actions as we hope to learn from the past. While contemplating what we believe God expects of us, we consider what we expect of ourselves. The Talmud teaches us that at the end of our days, we will be asked six questions to demonstrate our accomplishments in this world.

Though each of these questions may seem simple at first glance, they are questions we can all look at and commit ourselves to strive for positive answers.

Are you honest in business? All of us have business relationships, whether as consumers or proprietors. When we represent ourselves honestly, we are true to who we are. Our identity is sacred, and we must always be careful to represent ourselves with the utmost of integrity.

Did you make time for learning? “Do not say, ‘When I have time, I will study,’ because you will never have time.” There are many avenues available to all of us for learning. Whether we learn from the Torah during Shabbat services, take a class, read a book, or merely engage others in conversations that involve thinking, listening and respecting the opinions of others. Learning does not have to be formal. Magine ending every day asking yourself the question, “What did I learn today?” You might surprise yourself.

Did you engage in procreation? This is not only about having children. Procreation, in this respect, means promoting positive influence on others. Anyone who we encounter is someone who can learn from us. We have engaged in procreation each time something we do or say has an influence on others. Therefore, we must be careful about our words; people are learning from us all the time.

Did you hope for salvation? The 10 Commandments has one commandment that is not about action, but about emotion (Thou shalt not covet). Likewise, this list has one that is about emotion. Hope is something all of us can do. Hope not only keeps us alive but helps us to really live.

Did you add wisdom to the world? “Who is wise? Those who can learn from everyone.” Each of us has something special to share. We never know when the things we take for granted may be just the wisdom that someone else is looking for.

Did you have a mystical relationship with God? This may be the hardest one to measure, and clearly a life-long pursuit. Our relationships with God are very much like our relationships with people: intangible connections that include intense love and difficult challenges. When we remember that each human being is created in the image of

God, all our human relationships become sacred.

The New Year is a perfect time to “check our balance” -- to see if we are paid up to date with these important questions. Each of us can do our best to settle these accounts. If we have truly done our best, we can look at ourselves in the mirror – seeing one of God’s sacred creations – and feel debt-free.

Shana Tova,

Becky Cohen

Cuban Hebrew Foundation