rom the days of Reb Yisrael Salanter and onward the pillars of the Mussar Movement searched for a formula through which we could safely get through these days of awe and judgment.

In truth, can any of us be so presumptuous to think that we can pass single file before G-d on Rosh Hashana and be judged favorably on his own merit? I often think about this as I pass through the green line at Ben Gurion Airport. Even if I have nothing to declare I am always somewhat uncomfortable and a bit nervous. Well, my dear alumni, by the time Rosh Hashana rolls around we all have plenty of baggage that needs to be declared and if checked would be very problematic.

Rabeinu Bechayei at the beginning of Parshat Ki Tissa explains that even the Shunamite Woman, who was called a "great woman" did not want Elisha the prophet to make a special request before G-d on her behalf because it was Rosh Hashana that day, "Vayehi hayom". She was too afraid to appear as an individual at such a time and therefore said "Betoch ami anochi yoshevet" - "In the midst of my nation I dwell." At this time she felt it better for her personal needs to be included in those of the whole nation rather than be singled out.

Reb Yisrael knew this all too well and passed on to his students his secret of success for these days of awe. The individual must strive to become part of the group, part of the klal, part of Knesset Yisrael. Man cannot stand alone on his own at this time. His only hope is to be judged as part of the whole nation, because the nation -- as a nation -- is always judged as innocent.

It is probably a great chesed of Hashem that he allows us to hide among the congregation on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. Imagine yourself standing completely alone at the moment you are being judged by your Creator. The Elder of Kelm makes a number of suggestions on how to move from being an isolated, self-centered individual to becoming an integral part of the Jewish Nation. One very potent method he suggests is working on identifying and feeling the pain or happiness of others -- family, friends, and neighbors. Another avenue is to become an individual needed by the klal. This turns you into a "klal mentch". Volunteering for community organizational work or Jewish causes are excellent examples of this. Working for Eretz Yisrael or becoming an asset to your own yeshiva is extremely important at this troublesome time. The perk here is that you actually become part of Klal Yisrael in Eretz Yisrael.

One need not give up their individuality to become part of the klal. On the contrary everyone can and should make his or her unique contribution to becoming part of the klal.

I once asked my grandfather Reb Yaakov Kamenetsky zt"l if he felt bad spending so much time dealing with the Jewish people's problems leaving very little time for his personal learning. Reb Yaakov told me that after the age of seventy he had no regrets. After seventy, he said, "the years are G-d-given, because man's standard life span is seventy. The years beyond seventy were not given for me alone but for the klal, and that is what I am devoting them for."

The Baalei Mussar believed that Klal Yisrael would always come out innocent on the Day of Judgment. That is assured from G-d. Individuals, on the other hand, may not. It is therefore better to hang on to the coattails of the klal.

On Rosh Hashana when we blow the shofar this year we should hear the call to gather us all together as one klal and all together thank G-d and crown Him King and say "Hashem yimloch leolam vaed" - "Hashem will rule forever and ever." In this merit G-d will fulfill his ideal of "vekabtzenu yachad meiarba kanfot haaretz" - "Gather us together from the four corners of the earth."

By the way, the next time you go through the green line at Ben Gurion Airport, check out how arriving "groups" are treated. They just sail right through without ever being stopped.