This week marks the beginning of the month of Elul, thirty days of preparation for the Days of Awe. Rabbi Yoshi will share texts about the five elements of teshuvah (repentance).
The first step of repentance is recognizing one’s sins (הכרת החטא, hakarat ha-chet). It requires us to look at ourselves and our behavior honestly in order to identify ways in which we have missed the mark. How have we failed to live up to our ideals? How have we fallen short of our own expectations, the expectations of others, or the expectations of our Jewish tradition and, as best as we can imagine, God? While it is always helpful in terms of moral development to ask oneself these questions, now especially is the moment in the Jewish calendar when we do so. So make some time for yourself in the weeks to come for self-reflection. Be specific. Write down some of the ways you have fallen short. It will help you with the next steps of the process as we seek to improve our behavior and become worthy of forgiveness.
— Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback
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