This post is about the Jewish month of Av, as it relates to The Chazak Plan: A 12 Month Journey to Spiritual Strength.
Rosh Chodesh Av begins Thursday night, the 12th of July and lasts for one day.
On the 9th of this month – Tisha B’Av – we fast to commemorate the destruction of the First and Second Temples.
Last month, we focused on removing hatred. This month, we will focus on the next step: Restoring love by apologizing and helping others.
Consider if you may have caused someone distress, by what you said or did. If yes, commit to apologize to them as soon as possible.
In addition, each day of this month, consider checking off on your checklist if you did an act of kindness; it can be something small. If the day is coming to a close and you have not yet done an act of kindness, ask yourself if there is someone you can call or email, who would appreciate that you reached out to them. At the very least, put some money in a charity box. Do not let a day go by without doing something for someone else. As the Sages teach, (Ethics of the Fathers 1:14), “…If I am [only] for myself, what am I?”
The topic of doing acts of kindness is discussed in, Abraham + Isaac + Jacob = You. The topic of not wronging others is discussed in, “What is Your Number One Spiritual Stumbling Block?” The topic of apologizing is discussed in, “Repairing Our Mistakes: How to Ask for Forgiveness.”
Questions for the month:
“Who can I apologize to?” (And make amends if applicable)
“Who can I help?” (Some examples: Giving emotional, financial or physical support, advice, or helping someone find a job or a spouse.)
Have a great week,
Yaakov
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