With the high holidays firmly in our rear-view mirror, we leave the intense personal scrutiny labeled “cheshbon hanefesh,” a personal accounting of our actions.

We now return to ”normal” living.  One overarching message our tradition gives us is that through repentance and atonement we can once again take control of our lives. Such irony!

Most of us live under the illusion that we are in control, when in reality we control so very little – if anything at all.  This fantasy affords us the opportunity to make sense of an inchoate world.  Yet life and its most unpredictable twists and turns always prevails – and never fails to school us in so many different ways.

To be clear, we need this illusion of control.  This edifice, though a flimsy house of cards, allows us to interact and most importantly, contribute to the betterment of our world.

But it does pay........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)