teshuva

Judaism

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July 17, 2026

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In Judaism, teshuvah (or teshubah) is a central concept that means "repentance" or "return." It signifies a process of turning back to God after sinning or straying from the right path. This concept is deeply intertwined with the Jewish understanding of humanity as ethically bound creatures, capable of choosing between obedience and disobedience to divine will.12

The period of the High Holy Days, which includes Rosh Hashanah (New Year) and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), is a crucial time for teshuvah. During these days, Jews engage in introspection, prayer, and acts of charity (tzedakah) to seek forgiveness and reconciliation with God. The ultimate goal is to be inscribed in the "book of life" for the coming year. Teshuvah emphasizes that even after wrongdoing, the opportunity to return to God and reconstitute one's life is always available through sincere remorse and positive action.342

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Judaism
The ethically bound creature
…idea, even though the term teshuva (“turning”) came into use only in rabbinic sources. Basically, the idea grows out of the covenant: the opportunity to return to God is the result of God’s unwillingness—despite human failures—to break off the covenant relationship. Rabbinic thought assumed that even the direst warnings of…
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…idea, even though the term teshuva (“turning”) came into use only in rabbinic sources. Basically, the idea grows out of the covenant: the opportunity to return to God is the result of God’s unwillingness—despite human failures—to break off the covenant relationship. Rabbinic thought assumed that even the direst warnings of…
Read More