Tag: Teshuvah

High Holiday Message 5786

Dear Friends: I’ve experienced earthquakes twice in my life, and though fortunately they were both mild, I found each experience remarkably terrifying. Supposedly, there is ...
September 16, 2025 Elul Holidays

Strengthen the Heart: Elul 23

Daily Elul kavanot: Short intentions guiding reflection, teshuvah, and spiritual renewal in preparation for the High Holidays.
, September 16, 2025 Elul Elul Intentions

The Thread of Continuity: Elul 22

Daily Elul kavanot: Short intentions guiding reflection, teshuvah, and spiritual renewal in preparation for the High Holidays.
, September 15, 2025 Elul Elul Intentions

Practice Gratitude: Elul 21

Daily Elul kavanot: Short intentions guiding reflection, teshuvah, and spiritual renewal in preparation for the High Holidays.
, September 14, 2025 Elul Elul Intentions

Opening the Gates: Elul 20

Daily Elul kavanot: Short intentions guiding reflection, teshuvah, and spiritual renewal in preparation for the High Holidays.
, September 13, 2025 Elul Elul Intentions

Authenticity Takes Courage: Elul 19

Daily Elul kavanot: Short intentions guiding reflection, teshuvah, and spiritual renewal in preparation for the High Holidays.
, September 12, 2025 Elul Elul Intentions

Bound Together: Elul 18

Daily Elul kavanot: Short intentions guiding reflection, teshuvah, and spiritual renewal in preparation for the High Holidays.
, September 11, 2025 Elul Elul Intentions

The Body Speaks: Elul 17

Daily Elul kavanot: Short intentions guiding reflection, teshuvah, and spiritual renewal in preparation for the High Holidays.
, September 10, 2025 Elul Elul Intentions

Soften the Heart: Elul 15

Daily Elul kavanot: Short intentions guiding reflection, teshuvah, and spiritual renewal in preparation for the High Holidays.
, September 8, 2025 Elul Elul Intentions

Teshuvah’s Steps: Elul 14

Daily Elul kavanot: Short intentions guiding reflection, teshuvah, and spiritual renewal in preparation for the High Holidays.
, September 7, 2025 Elul Elul Intentions

One Thing I Ask: Elul 12

Daily Elul kavanot: Short intentions guiding reflection, teshuvah, and spiritual renewal in preparation for the High Holidays.
, September 5, 2025 Elul Elul Intentions

The Sound You Avoid: Elul 11

Daily Elul kavanot: Short intentions guiding reflection, teshuvah, and spiritual renewal in preparation for the High Holidays.
, September 4, 2025 Elul Elul Intentions

One Small Act: Elul 10

Daily Elul kavanot: Short intentions guiding reflection, teshuvah, and spiritual renewal in preparation for the High Holidays.
, September 3, 2025 Elul Elul Intentions

Stronger Together: Elul 8

Daily Elul kavanot: Short intentions guiding reflection, teshuvah, and spiritual renewal in preparation for the High Holidays.
, September 1, 2025 Elul Elul Intentions

Stand Bare: Elul 7

Daily Elul kavanot: Short intentions guiding reflection, teshuvah, and spiritual renewal in preparation for the High Holidays.
, August 31, 2025 Elul Elul Intentions
Hebrew word tamim on a black background with the title of the essay

Be Perfect! Be Authentic! Be with God! 

We’re approaching the end. The journey through the desert is coming to a close, and Moshe is giving his final instructions to the Israelites before ...
August 28, 2025 Parashat Shoftim Parashat Shoftim Dvar Torah
Teshuvah Summary: Medical and Recreational Cannabis Usage

Teshuvah Summary: Medical and Recreational Cannabis Usage

What is the halakhic and Jewish ethical status of consuming, possessing, and selling cannabis for both medical and recreational purposes?
July 18, 2025 CJLS Halakhah

What Taking Up Chess Taught Me About Teshuvah

How can chess overlap with teshuvah? We can focus a lot on the "best moves" to make for every situation we find ourselves in.
April 25, 2025 Daily Living Every Day
Balance Espiritual y Arrepentimiento

Balance Espiritual y Arrepentimiento

Fasting, praying, and ancient rituals invite and inspire us to begin Ḥeshbon Hanefesh and perform sincere Teshuvah.
September 20, 2024 High Holidays Holidays
Spiritual Balance and Teshuvah

Spiritual Balance and Teshuvah

Fasting, praying, and ancient rituals invite and inspire us to begin Ḥeshbon Hanefesh and perform sincere Teshuvah.
, September 20, 2024 High Holidays Holidays
How To Live A Morally Good Life

How To Live A Morally Good Life

The moral life, with its choices, its responsibilities, its missteps, and its modes of repair, is an integral part of what it means to be ...
September 17, 2024 Ethics High Holidays
Are Non-Kosher Animals Permitted for Organ Transplants?

Are Non-Kosher Animals Permitted for Organ Transplants?

Are non-kosher animals permitted for organ transplants? Rabbi Shai Cherry explains the recent teshuvah from the CJLS.
July 10, 2024 Animals CJLS
Doing Teshuvah Outside of Communal Prayers

Doing Teshuvah Outside of Communal Prayers

This teshuvah, written at a time when gathering was not possible, explores doing teshuvah outside of communal prayers.
February 5, 2024 Elul Holidays
Non-Fasting Sh"tz on Yom Kippur

Non-Fasting Sh”tz on Yom Kippur

When should we use a non-fasting sh"tz on Yom Kippur? This CJLS teshuvah, originally written by Rabbi Gail Labovitz, explains.
September 28, 2023 CJLS Halakhah
The Meatless Menu

The Meatless Menu

Read the explanation of the recent teshuvah, Meatless Menu, about eating in non-kosher vegan and vegetarian restaurants.
September 7, 2023 Every Day Kashrut
Halakha and the Assessment of Risk

Halakha and the Assessment of Risk

Halakha can be used for the assessment of risk; this can be relevant for pikuach nefesh (saving a life) or kashrut.
September 7, 2023 Ethics Every Day
Hoshana Rabbah

Hoshana Rabbah

Although the fifth intermediate day of Sukkot is known as Hoshana Rabbah, it is technically just the last day of ḥol ha-mo·eid.
, October 28, 2022 High Holidays Holidays
Ne'ilah

Ne’ilah

Ne’ilah is an additional service, recited only at the conclusion of Yom Kippur. It signifies the sealing of the Book of Life.
, October 4, 2022 High Holidays Holidays
Minḥah on Yom Kippur

Minḥah on Yom Kippur

Minhah, the Afternoon Service, begins with the Torah service, including selections from Leviticus and the haftarah on the Book of Jonah.
, October 4, 2022 High Holidays Holidays
Yom Kippur Evening Service

Yom Kippur Evening Service

Maariv, the evening service, following Kol Nidrei on Erev Yom Kippur, is similar in many ways to daily Maariv but has notable differences.
, October 3, 2022 High Holidays Holidays
Erev Yom Kippur and the Customs Preceding It

Erev Yom Kippur and the Customs Preceding It

Preparations on Erev Yom Kippur are intrinsic to the awe-inspiring observance of the day: a special meal, candle lighting, and charity.
, October 3, 2022 High Holidays Holidays
Kol Nidrei and Being Imperfect Together

Kol Nidrei and Being Imperfect Together

Yom Kippur begins with the dramatic Kol Nidrei service, intended to annul vows made between yourself and God.
, October 3, 2022 High Holidays Holidays
Why Do We Read Jonah On Yom Kippur?

Why Do We Read Jonah On Yom Kippur?

With lessons on failure, the value of admitting our mistakes, and allowing ourselves and others to apologize, the Book of Jonah has much to teach ...
September 22, 2022 High Holidays Holidays
Tashlikh: A Quick Overview

Tashlikh: A Quick Overview

One of the beautiful customs associated with Rosh Hashanah is Tashlikh, a brief service that takes place by a body of water.
, September 20, 2022 High Holidays Holidays
Are There Only Ten Days of Repentance Each Year?

Are There Only Ten Days of Repentance Each Year?

Teshuvah in the 10 days of Repentance between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are sacred days, but what about the days before and beyond those?
September 19, 2022 High Holidays Holidays
5 Myths about T’shuvah

5 Myths about T’shuvah

Five myths that we tell ourselves about t'shuvah that keep us from doing it skillfully or doing it at all.
September 19, 2022 Elul High Holidays
Could The Terminator Do Teshuvah?

Could The Terminator Do Teshuvah?

Rabbi Dan Ornstein teaches us: human freedom is ineradicable and that our dignity is predicated upon our moral responsibility.
September 16, 2022 High Holidays Holidays
The Days Between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur

The Days Between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur

The days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are known as the Ten Days of Repentance and include the Fast of Gedaliah.
, September 7, 2022 High Holidays Holidays