Elul 24/September 6

Rabbi Bradley Levenberg

There is a remarkably powerful difference between two ideas, represented by two words, that are often explored in Elul. Regret, the first idea, is one of the most accessible emotions we have. It arrives quickly, it sounds sincere, and, for a moment, it can even feel like we’ve tapped into something meaningful. But regret, on its own, doesn’t ask very much of us. It allows us to acknowledge a misstep without requiring that anything actually change.

Responsibility, the other idea, is different. It has heft, because it doesn’t just ask how we feel about something; it asks what we are willing to do to address it. Responsibility might mean a conversation we’ve been avoiding, an apology that names more than it softens, or (and?) a commitment to behave differently the next time we’re in a similar moment.

Elul draws a clear line between regret and responsibility. It honors the instinct to reflect, for sure, but it doesn’t let us stop there. These holy days push us, gently but firmly, toward action.

Because in the end, growth and change and the return that we desire as expressed through the High Holy Day liturgy isn’t measured by what we notice. It’s measured by what we’re willing to do about it.