A Survival Guide for Cheshvan: The Month With No Yom Tov א סורווייוואל גייד פאר חודש חשון: דער חודש אן קיין יום טוב

So, we survived Tishrei. Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkos, Shemini Atzeres, Simchas Torah. And suddenly, Cheshvan. Not one Yom Tov. Not for nothing they call it "Mar Cheshvan".

How do you know you're still in Tishrei mode? You wake up on a Wednesday thinking about what's on the menu at today's seudah. You walk down the street looking around for a sukkah. Someone says "good morning" and you answer "Gut Yom Tov". And your belt has a new hole. I have two.

The truth is, it's not so bad. The day has a beginning and an end again. The shiur is back at seven. The alarm clock works again, unfortunately.

Diet? My wife already put a salad on the table. I looked at it, it looked at me. We'll see.

And if you're missing a simcha, make one. A siyum, a melave malka with friends, a walk in the fall air. And Shabbos is still there every week, nobody takes that away.

Chanukah isn't far. Until then, a gutten chodesh, and good luck getting back to yourself.