Pearls of Elul 5786 - Day Twenty-Five

September 6 | 24 Elul

Did You Make Time for What Matters?

Talmudic question: קבעת עתים לתורה - Kavata itim laTorah

The second question asks whether we established fixed times for Torah. As we move toward the High Holy Days, this question speaks directly to the practice of making sacred time. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur interrupt our ordinary schedules and insist that there are moments when we need to stop doing and start reflecting. We don't simply stumble into the Days of Awe; we make time for them. The Talmud asks whether we have done something similar throughout the year, whether we have intentionally created space for learning, reflection, prayer, wisdom, and spiritual growth. The question is not simply, "Did you learn Torah?" Rather, it is “Did you establish times for Torah?” In other words, did you make something sacred enough to put it on your calendar? As Elul asks us to examine our priorities, perhaps our calendars offer one of the clearest answers.

The question for is Elul:

Does the way I spend my time reflect what I say matters most?