A few days from now -- provided you read your Vine as I do, when it's hot off the presses -- we will enter into the Hebrew month of Cheshvan. Traditionally, this month is known as Mar-Cheshvan, or "bitter Cheshvan," because it's a month in which there are no major holidays or celebrations.

As a cook, I know that dough needs to rest before baking so that the chemical bonds that cause it to form its characteristic texture are able to develop. As a rabbi, I know that the Torah, in Genesis, teaches that at the end of a week of intensive creative work, God rested. Created in the image of God, we, too, set aside a time for rest at the end of each week. in Exodus we learn: "You may plant your land for six years and gather its crops. But during the seventh year, you must leave it alone and withdraw from it." (Exodus 3:10-11). This allows the minerals in the soil to regenerate so that future crops will be able to grow in a supportive environment.

Judaism isn't the only faith to capitalize on the power of a restorative break. Devout Hindus and Buddhists can often be seen fingering prayer beads known as japa malas. There are 108 beads in a japa mala, a lucky number because of its connection to the number three (it is a three-digit number, divisible by three) which represents balance in Eastern religions. The necklace is used to count the repetitions of a mantra and is the religious symbol on which the rosary is based.

Traditionally the japa mala has an extra bead that hangs outside the circle and, to the casual observer, seems like ornamentation. When the pray-er reaches this 109th bead, he or she is to find momentary respite from deep absorption in prayer and to take time to reflect on the deeper meaning of his or her words.

This is what I think the Hebrew month of Cheshvan is all about: stepping back, taking some time to integrate the lessons of the prior month.

Tishri, the month in which we celebrate Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot and Simchat Torah, is an intense flurry of physical and emotional activity. We're busy cooking, cleaning, hosting friends and family, visiting friends and family, building sukkot and purchasing underwear for the annual drive. At the same time we're soulsearching, making amends and planning to be better and do better in the future. it's difficult, as the saying goes, to see the forest for the trees. Cheshvan gives us a chance to incorporate all we've learned about ourselves and all we've promised to be and do.

When I was a teenager, I couldn't imagine staying home on a Saturday night. in my early teens I had steady babysitting jobs. in later years, I spent warmer evenings hanging out at the Dairy Queen and, when it got cool, at the movies, enjoying the benefits (read large cones and extra butter) of having friends who worked at both venues. These days, though I still enjoy the movies and an occasional ice-cream cone, I'm just as pleased to stay in, watch a good movie on DVD (pine for the days of The Love Boat and Fantasy Island) and just absorb the week that was.

I've enjoyed spending this last introspective, joyous, intense month with you. I'll also look forward to the month ahead, Cheshvan, in the same way I look forward to the occasional Saturday night at home.

May this period of rest be sweet to us and may it recharge and reinvigorate as we enter fully into this New Year.