Solemn yet festive. Full of trepidation yet sparkling with hope. A reunion with our loving Father and at the same time a command appearance before our All-Powerful King.  Rosh Hashanah is upon us once again followed by the Aseres Yemei Teshuvah and the grand finale Yom Kippur. Clearly the powerful emotional and spiritual forces afoot during this period are meant to move us from our spot on the spiritual map.

But it’s hard to move. Despite the frightening strains of Unesaneh Tokef awakening our hearts to the life-and-death judgment we are facing we worry that we may not even manage to carry our spiritual reawakening out the door of the shul. We tend to give up believing in our capacity for meaningful change fearing that our teshuvah and resolutions for improvement will be no more substantial than our most recent weight-loss effort.

But this nagging sense of futility is unwarranted for the Aseres Yemei Teshuvah are unlike any other days of the year. They are an Eis Ratzon – a time of favor – in which the universe is imbued with a special potential for teshuvah forgiveness and renewal. This is the time of year when we can count on Hashem’s help in ascending to our better selves – His powerful boost for our climb up the spiritual ladder.

While it is true that Hashem is always there ready to receive our teshuvah this is a time when G-d's “ear” so to speak is far more inclined toward us. By way of analogy think of the sun. It shines from its spot in the heavens every day but in mid-summer we experience its rays far more powerfully than we do in mid-winter. It's the same sun burning at the same intensity and yet at certain times we are able to access far more of its heat and light.

Therefore even if a person’s efforts toward self-improvement tend to fall flat this time it really is different. Rosh Hashana and all the Aseres Yemei Teshuvah are days to which the Navi (Yeshayahu 55:6) refers when he advises: “Seek Hashem when he can be found; call upon Him when He is near.” When a person knows he has a solid chance of success he tries harder. For instance a person would put far more thought care and effort into preparing for a job interview where he had a high likelihood of being considered for the job. “It’s a good opportunity ” he would think. “Better not waste it.”

Whatever improvements a person wishes to make in his spiritual life Rosh Hashana and the Aseres Yemei Teshuvah are that great opportunity which we cannot afford to waste. We can enter these awesome days filled with confidence that our efforts will bear fruit – that we really can make changes that will stick. A lack of confidence or a sense of futility is simply out of synch with the spiritual potential that fills the air. If ever there is a time to put forth a full effort this is it.

Added to the power of the season is the fundamental concept that "In the way that a person wants to go he will be led" (Makkos 10b). And Chazal (Yoma 38b) promise “One who comes to purify himself (bah l’taheir) receives siyata d’Shmaya — Divine assistance.” Similarly Chazal (Shir HaShirim Rabbah 5:2) assure us that Hashem says ‘Open for Me an opening the size of the point of a needle and I will open for you an opening through which even wagons and trolleys can enter.’” Our kabalah to come closer to G-d has a powerful effect on the chances for its success.

The effect of the eis ratzon of the Aseres Yemei Teshuva is not a brief magical moment in time; it has long-term impact as well. For once we have experienced the joy of Hashem’s closeness we are like children who are familiar with the sound of their father’s voice and the feel of his arm around their shoulders. We are equipped to seek and find our Father again and again throughout the year. And we can for there are many other times and situations considered an eis ratzon for prayer. When we seek out these times and situations and use them to their maximum benefit we throw open the floodgates of blessing from Above. Suddenly what had been beyond our reach is close at hand.

But the most life-altering result of calling upon Hashem in an eis ratzon is the deep spiritual connection one is able to feel at that propitious time. Hashem is close by ready to listen ready to accept all worthy prayers. Who can afford to miss such an opportunity? And an eis ratzon is not so hard to come by as we can see from the following six examples.

Minyan: The very definition of an eis ratzon according to the Gemara (Berachos 8a) is linked to praying with a minyan. Expounding on the verse (Tehillim 69:14) “But as for me my prayer is to You Hashem at a favorable time ” it explains that “a favorable time” refers to “the time the congregation prays.” Further support for this link comes from the fact that the numerical equivalent of the words “tefillah b’tzibbur”(815) matches that of “eis ratzon.”

The chief purpose of praying with a minyan is to join the communal Shemoneh Esrei.
 

Mincha: Rashba (Sheilos U’Teshuvos HaRashba Vol. 5 Siman 1) points out that “just as the Aseres Yemei Teshuvah is the eis ratzon of each year minchah is the eis ratzon of each day.” The time of Minchah has a special hashgacha pratis for the prayer to rise to the heavens.

Giving Charity Before Davening - The Meiri (Meiri on Bava Basra 10a) states that charity [given] before prayer serves as an “advocate between the one praying and his Father in Heaven” ensuring that his prayers are accepted. This practice is found in the Gemara (Ibid) which relates that Rabbi Elazar would give a perutah (coin of minimal value) to a pauper and then proceed to pray. He explained “For it is written (Tehillim 17:15) ‘I shall behold your face through (giving) charity.’ ”

Kindling Shabbos Lights - Every woman has the power to slow down clear her mind of the frantic run-up to Shabbos kindle the lights and then spend a few moments in real conversation with her Creator. The Zohar (Bereishis 48b) teaches that lighting Shabbos lights “with gladness of heart” brings peace to the Jewish people and long life to the members of the woman’s family.

At the Chupah - For the uninitiated the scene under the chupah would appear far from festive. The groom and bride are praying with deep intensity as if no one else were there. They have fasted recited Viduy and been cleansed of all their sins. They stand together in perfect purity under the chupah—and the Shechinah rests with them. 

All who are present at a chupah are present before the Shechinah as well. The chupah creates an atmosphere charged with sanctity crackling with spiritual potential. Whether one prays for the welfare of the new couple for someone seeking a shidduch for one’s own children or any other need – the chupah is an eis ratzon available to all who are fortunate to be there.

At a Bris - The moment of the bris provides “a direct line to Heaven” for prayers recited when the baby cries. The Ba’al Olelos Ephraim states “Everyone should pray regarding their pain and sufferings at the time the child cries from the pain of the bris because his [the child’s] voice goes up [to Heaven] without obstruction and will include all other prayers.”

The time of a bris is particularly potent for prayers for healing. Rav Tzadok Hakohein (Sefer Pokeid Akorim Page 13 Os 4) explains that bris milah is a major force for drawing healing into the world. The Gemara (Megillah 17b) reveals that the Anshei Knesses Hagedolah (Men of the Great Assembly) made Refa’einu (the blessing for healing) the eighth blessing of Shemoneh Esrei because bris milah which draws down Hashem’s power of healing is designated for the eighth day

We see even from this short list that Hashem provides many venues in which He inclines His “ear” closer to us and pays special heed to our sincere prayers. This Rosh Hashana and all throughout the Aseres Yemei Teshuva as we pray for life health prosperity and peace – for ourselves and for all of Klal Yisrael – may we do so with the fullness of heart and the faith that comes from knowing that our entreaties are being welcomed in Heaven. As we set our minds to becoming better Jews – to finally shedding our negative habits and coming closer to who we are meant to be – may this eis ratzon bring us success inspiration strength and brocha.

This is the time. May we use it well and be zoche to a shana tova u’mesuka.

Rabbi Heshy Kleinman is the author of the best-selling books Praying With Fire Praying With Fire 2 and his latest Yearning With Fire published by ArtScroll/Mesorah. Each book is divided into a 5-Minute Lesson-a-Day format. Rabbi Kleinman lectures internationally on prayer emunah and other important topics. He is co-founder and director of the V’Ani Tefillah Foundation dedicated to increasing awareness of the importance and power of prayer and emunah and to providing education inspiration and tools for more sincere powerful and effective prayer and emunah. 

Mrs. Chana Nestlebaum a freelance writer from Lakewood N. J. helped prepare this article for publication.