“On the first day you shall take…” (Vayikra 23:40)

Chazal (Medrash Tanchuma Emor 23) tell us that the word “Rishon” is used because this is the first day that our sins get computed. People are busy between Yom Kippur and Sukkos doing mitzvos, and therefore no sins are being committed during that four-day period. This is indeed an uplifting thought, but people find it quite problematic – for is it really true that no one sins between Yom Kippur and Sukkos? One truly hopes so, but it does not seem to be realistic. So, what is the point that Chazal are trying to tell us?

The Gemara says (Shabbos 55:1) that whoever says “Reuven sinned” is mistaken. I once heard my father explain this as follows: There are people who are sinners, and there are others who are not looking to sin – rather, they are trying to do good! However, sometimes they may just fall into sin. When we speak of those people, we should not perceive them as sinners, rather as upstanding Jews who have made mistakes.

It is well known that when a person dies there is din and cheshbon. The Vilna Gaon explains that din refers to that which the deceased actually did wrong, and the cheshbon refers to that what he was supposed have been doing when he was sinning.

Based on this, we can answer our question. Chazal are not saying that no one sins from Yom Kippur to Sukkos. But after Yom Kippur we all take upon ourselves that we are going to be righteous Jews. Not only that, but our focus has moved into the sphere of spirituality, as we get involved in Sukkos preparations. Our agenda consists only of Torah and Mitzvos. That does not mean that we may not slip up and sin. However, if we did sin, this sin was without “cheshbon”, as we were engulfed in spiritual pursuits. Unfortunately, when Sukkos begins after this four-day period, and we ease back into our routine, our priorities tend to slip and the “cheshbonos” (calculations) that we make in our lives, may be tinged with sin.

We are now in the time of year when we count every day, evaluate ourselves, and prepare to receive the Torah. Though we may be removed from Pesach, and Shavuos is not even in sight yet, we have a security fence to make sure that even if we sin, it is not premeditated, as our thoughts are involved in readying ourselves to accept the Torah. One way that we do this is by learning a chapter of Pirkei Avos every week between Pesach and Shavuos. Some people learn each day about one of the 48 ways to acquire Torah. Either way, we are all supposed to be using this time period for self-growth.

May this continued “cheshbon hanefesh” grant us the ability to receive the Torah on Shavuos with purity and dignity as we complete our “cheshbon” of counting the Omer.