- 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.
Fear of Elul
Rabbi Yaakov Asher Sinclair | Elul 15 5781

Responsibility for Teshuva Within Our Family: "Does Father Know Best?"
Ein Aya Shabbat 2, 292
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Tishrei 9 5782

Sin is Divisive Chaos While Tshuva is a Life of Uniting Harmony
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Tishrei 5 5780
A Live Teshuvah
Sparks of Teshuva (3) - Ideas From Orot Hatshuvah
Rabbi Yisrael Wende | Elul 5773

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.

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

A Shoulder to Cry Upon
Tevet 16 5781

WE ARE THE MISHKAN!
Adar 6 5777

Parasha Summary - Shelach Lecha
An Overview of the Torah Portion

What Really Happened to the Students of Rabbi Akiva?
Rabbi Stewart Weiss | Iyar 17 5782

Trauma, Teruma and Temura
Rabbi Stewart Weiss | Iyar 17 5782
