Time to Think About Hashem

We might think, then, that the 40-day period in which we currently find ourselves, and which culminates on Yom Kippur, coincides with Hashem’s mechilah, forgiveness, of the Jewish People for the sin of the Golden Calf. Rabbi Immanuel Bernstein points out, however, that is not the case. Already at the end of the second 40-day period, on 29 Av, the Holy One, Blessed is He, was, in Rashi’s words, “reconciled with Israel and told Moshe, ‘Carve out for yourself two tablets.’ ”

On Yom Kippur — again quoting Rashi — another element was added: “The Holy One, Blessed is He, was reconciled with Israel with joy, and said to Moshe, ‘I have forgiven in accordance with your words.’ That is why Yom Kippur was fixed for forgiveness and pardon.”

What is the difference between “reconciliation” and “reconciliation with joy”? Upon the answer to that question depends the focus of our efforts during Elul and the Ten Days of Repentance.

Rabbi Bernstein suggests that the primary avodah of the third 40-day period associated with teshuvah is working on our consciousness of Hashem, and letting that awareness of Him infuse everything that we think or do.