- Jewish Laws and Thoughts
- Repentance
How, Exactly, Is Teshuva (Repentance) Accomplished?
To effect Teshuva with another person, one must ask that person for forgiveness & also right the wrong (e.g. return money that was stolen). Otherwise, it is a hollow gesture. For sins committed against Hashem & the commandments (rabbinic & Biblical) there is a 3-part process. Step 1 is confessing the sin (vidui); many of the prayers in Elul & Tishrei (e.g. Selichot, Avinu Malkeinu, Ashamnu, Al Chet, etc) express this. Step 2 is expressing regret for having sinned (charata). This is an informal, internal admission that what we did was wrong & was detrimental to our spiritual & physical well-being. Step 3 is a firm determination that when the opportunity arises in the future to commit that same sin, we will refrain from doing it (azivat ha-chet). This indicates that our petition for repentance was sincere & was not just "lip service." It may actually take some time until this last condition is met, but invariably G-d will cause us "to return to the scene of the crime" & test our pledge.

Responsibility for Teshuva Within Our Family: "Does Father Know Best?"
Ein Aya Shabbat 2, 292
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Tishrei 9 5782
The Teshuva of the Treasury Minister
Rabbi Netanel Yossifun | Av 28 5781

National (vs. Individual) T'Shuva
Rabbi Moshe Kaplan | Elul 5 5781

Rav Kook's Orot HaT'shuva- In a Nutshell! Tshuva Can Be Happy- Not Depressing!
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Elul 20 5780

Rabbi Stewart Weiss
Was ordained at the Hebrew Theological College in Skokie, Illinois, and led congregations in Chicago and Dallas prior to making Aliyah in 1992. He directs the Jewish Outreach Center in Ra'anana, helping to facilitate the spiritual absorption of new olim.

Strangers No More
5775

Parasha Summary - Beha'alotcha
An Overview of the Torah Portion

The Orders for Our Borders
Av 21 5779

Moshe’s Military Message
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Tell Your Child"- the Hagada Laws"
Chapter Fifteen-Part One
Rabbi Eliezer Melamed | 5775
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Chapter Two-part three
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Insights into the Haggadah's Four Sons
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Roasted Foods on Pesach
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Lessons from Europe?
Igrot Hare’aya – Letters of Rav Kook #146 part 5
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit | Nissan 5783

What are the special prayers of Pesach?
Rabbi Stewart Weiss | Nissan 5783
