Tag
Repentance
12 articles
David and Bathsheba: Power, Sin, and Repentance
The story of David and Bathsheba confronts the abuse of royal power, the courage of the prophet Nathan, and the depth of genuine repentance — a turning point in David's life.
Why Jews Fast on Yom Kippur
The 25-hour Yom Kippur fast is commanded in the Torah as part of afflicting your soul — a physical expression of repentance that strips away bodily needs to focus entirely on spiritual renewal.
Jonah and the Whale: Running from God, Finding Mercy
Jonah tried to run from God, was swallowed by a great fish, and then raged when the people of Nineveh repented. Read on Yom Kippur afternoon, his story is really about the reach of divine mercy.
Parashat Nitzavim: Standing Before God, Covenant Renewal, and Choose Life
Parashat Nitzavim presents the final covenant renewal — every Israelite standing before God, the promise of return after exile, and the immortal command: 'I have set before you life and death — choose life.' Always read before Rosh Hashanah.
Tashlich: The Rosh Hashanah Ritual of Casting Away Sins
Tashlich — the Rosh Hashanah custom of going to water and symbolically casting away sins — is one of Judaism's most evocative rituals. Its origins, prayers, community dimension, and what happens when Rosh Hashanah falls on Shabbat.
Forgiveness in Judaism: From Elul to Yom Kippur and Beyond
Judaism has a structured, demanding approach to forgiveness: you must ask three times, the offended must try to grant it, and God forgives sins against God — but not sins against other people. Only they can do that.
Teshuvah: The Complete Guide to Jewish Repentance
Teshuvah — literally 'return' — is Judaism's transformative process of repentance. Far more than saying sorry, it involves genuine change and is available to every person at any time.
Maimonides' Five Steps of Repentance: A Practical Guide
Maimonides outlined a clear five-step process for genuine repentance: recognition, remorse, confession, resolution, and the ultimate test of changed behavior in identical circumstances.
Shabbat Shuvah: The Shabbat of Return Between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
Shabbat Shuvah is the Shabbat between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, a sacred day of return and repentance during the Ten Days of Awe.
Unetaneh Tokef: Who Shall Live and Who Shall Die
Unetaneh Tokef — 'Let us proclaim the power of this day' — is the dramatic High Holiday prayer that envisions God judging every living soul. Explore its haunting imagery, its legendary origins, and its call to repentance, prayer, and charity.
Ashamnu and Al Chet: Judaism's Prayers of Confession
Ashamnu and Al Chet are the two confessional prayers at the heart of Yom Kippur. Together they form an alphabetical catalogue of human failing — recited collectively, with a beating of the chest, as the community takes responsibility for its sins.
How to Do Teshuvah: A Practical Guide to Repentance
A practical guide to the Jewish process of teshuvah (repentance), covering Maimonides' steps, self-examination, making amends, and sustaining personal change throughout the year.