On Tshuvah

by Renée Ponder

As Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur come upon us, again we reflect on tshuvah or repentance. We also have an opportunity now to turn to G‑d and go inward and reflect on our "own" last year. Where have we been selfish and self-seeking? Where did we hurt others, and how have we manipulated and coerced for what we want?

Our great prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel suggest repentance. Jeremiah says, "Amend your ways and your doings," and then recommends that you turn to G‑d's commandments. Ezekiel speaks of making a new heart and a new spirit. Rabbi Hama Ben Hanina taught "Great is repentance, for it brings healing to the world." Maimonides suggests that by reviewing our behavior and confronting ourselves, we get rid of some of our evil traits. "If a person is sincerely remorseful about them and repents, he can achieve full repentance. No one is completely righteous." He further says that we should constantly measure our actions to see if they affect the world in a positive or negative way.

During these High Holidays it is truly a time of soul searching. Often the most difficult task is to admit to ourselves what we have done wrong. It is a time to sit in judgment of one's self and look for self-purification. But do we sit year after year confronting the very same defects with only minimal change? Do we continue to hurt others and say a perfunctory Avinu Malkenu in temple, satisfied that this is the best that we can do? Adin Steinsalz says, "repentance does not bring a sense of serenity or of completion, but stimulates a reaching out in further effort. Indeed, the power and the potential of repentance lie in increased incentive and enhanced capacity to follow the path even further."

Hopefully through tshuvah we can remove the obstacles that prevent us from realizing our fullest potential. Through this process we can observe how we tend to waste our power, and how at this time we can transform and find the creative and purposeful self for the benefit or ourselves and our community. In doing this one is certain to feel that much closer to an alignment with G‑d. In our turning, may we raise the divine sparks to loving G‑d with all our heart, soul and might.

Blessings. L'Shanah Tovah.

—from our October 2000 Newsletter

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