Hayom Yom 27 Menachem Av - The month of Elul is the time of reckoning

מְבָרְכִים רֹאשׁ חֹדֶשׁ אֱלוּל, אֲמִירַת כָּל הַתְּהִלִּים בְּהַשְׁכָּמָה. יוֹם הִתְוַעֲדוּת[On Shabbos Mevarchim, it is our custom] to recite the entire Book of Tehillim early in the morning and to hold a farbrengen on that day.חֹדֶשׁ אֱלוּל הוּא חֹדֶשׁ הַחֶשְׁבּוֹןElul is a month of reckoning.דִּכְמוֹ בְּגַשְׁמִיּוּת הִנֵּה הַבַּעַל עֵסֶקJust as a businessmanבִּכְדֵי שֶׁיִּהְיֶה הָעֵסֶק כִּדְבָּעֵי וְיִתֵּן רֶוַח רַבwho wants to run his business properly and most profitablyצָרִיךְ מִזְּמַן לִזְמַן לַעֲשׂוֹת חֶשְׁבּוֹן וּלְתַקֵן אֶת כָּל הַחֶסְרוֹנוֹתmust take stock from time to time and correct anything amiss,כֵּן הוּא גַּם בַּעֲבוֹדָה הָרוּחָנִית בַּעֲבוֹדַת הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרֵךְso too must we act in our spiritual work of avodas HaShem.דְכָל הַשָּׁנָה הִנֵּה כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל עוֹסְקִין בְּתּוֹרָה וּמִצְוֹת וּבְמִדּוֹת טוֹבוֹתThroughout the year the Jewish people study Torah, observe mitzvos, and cultivate desirable character traits.בְּחֹדֶש אֱלוּל הוּא חֹדֶשׁ הַחֶשְבּוֹןThe month of Elul is the time of reckoning,אֲשֶׁר כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵלwhen each and every Jewכָּל חַד וְחַד לְפוּם שִׁיעוּרָא דִילֵיהaccording to his capacity,הֵן הַיּוֹשֵׁב אֹהֶל וְהֵן הַבַּעַל עֵסֶקbe he a Torah scholar or a businessman,צְרִיכִים לַעֲשׂוֹת חֶשְׁבּוֹן צֶדֶק בְּנַפְשָׁםhas to make a fair account within himselfמִכֹּל אֲשֶׁר עָבַר עֲלֵיהֶם בְּמֶשֶׁךְ הַשָּׁנָהover everything that has transpired in his life in the course of the past year. וְלֵידַע הַמַּעֲלוֹת בַּעֲבוֹדָתָם וּלְחַזְקָםThus, he can acknowledge the good points in his Divine service and reinforce them,וְאֶת הַחֶסְרוֹנוֹת שֶׁבָּהֶם וּבַעֲבוֹדָתָם לְתַקְּנָםas well as correct the shortcomings in himself and in his efforts.דְעַל יְדֵי הֲכָנָה טוֹבָה זוֹAnd by virtue of such positive preparation,זוֹכִים לְשָׁנָה טוֹבָה וּמְתוּקָה בְּגַשְׁמִיּוּת וְרוּחָנִיּוּתwe are found worthy of being blessed with a good and sweet year, both materially and spiritually.Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in EnglishFor questions and follow-up: [email protected]