Mitzvah Achat Be'Emunah: Before Rosh Hashanah, Ask Yourself This One Question

Rosh Hashanah comes with many preparations, customs, and spiritual practices. But Harav Maoz emphasizes that before focusing on chumrot, Kabbalah, Mikveh, or practices from the Zohar, a person first has to make sure they are actually keeping Torah, Mitzvot, and Halachah. Learning deeper concepts without first knowing the basics is, he says, like trying to learn calculus before learning first-grade math. The foundation has to come first.

And when it comes to Rosh Hashanah itself, the most important preparation is Teshuvah. All the surrounding practices may be meaningful, but a person first needs to sit with themselves and ask a simple question: How am I going to become better this year? Even someone who has committed averot throughout their life can return through Teshuvah — “כשלג ילבינו,” they can become white like snow. The goal is to enter one way and come out of it bigger and better.

That change begins with our everyday actions. Are we careful with Lashon Hara? How do we treat our parents? Have we learned the Halachot of Kibbud Horim? When someone asks us for a favor, do we genuinely make an effort to help? How do we behave toward our family, friends, children, grandparents, and the people around us? Before Rosh Hashanah, we should make a Cheshbon Nefesh, ask Mechilah and Selichah where necessary, and examine our Tefillot, Mitzvot, complaints, and behavior.

Rosh Hashanah is the Day of Judgment, which creates an unusual combination of emotions. On one hand, it is frightening. On the other, it is a happy day. We can tremble and still be happy because we are doing Teshuvah and changing our Maasim. Teshuvah is not easy because real Teshuvah requires changing the way we act. But it is worth it — and the Judge is also our loving Father.

Harav Maoz also gives a powerful approach to beginning that change: choose one Mitzvah and hold onto it completely. “Mitzvah achat be’emunah” means that no matter what happens, this is one thing you do not give up. Instead of trying to transform everything overnight, begin with one real commitment and stay faithful to it.

That may be the most important preparation of all. Rosh Hashanah is not only about what we say or what additional practices we take on. It is about deciding who we want to become. Sit down, make an honest Cheshbon Nefesh, repair what needs to be repaired, choose one Mitzvah to strengthen and keep to it no matter what, and enter the new year determined not to remain exactly the same person you were before.

Based on the teachings of Harav Maoz Yitzchakov.