Teshuvah: A Jewish Practice of Return and Repair

In "Teshuvah: A Jewish Practice of Return and Repair," Rachel Adlerstone examines the Jewish concept of teshuvah, moving beyond its common translation as repentance. The book presents teshuvah as a rigorous process of return, exploring its historical, practical, and contemporary significance. It analyzes regret, acknowledging wrongdoing, confessing faults, making restitution, altering behavior, and taking future responsibility, drawing on both classical Jewish texts and modern scenarios. The author differentiates between obligations owed to other individuals and those pertaining to one's relationship with God.

This work delves into various situations, including damaged property, power dynamics in the workplace, family estrangement, public discourse, institutional failures, and instances where direct contact for repair is not safe. It emphasizes that forgiveness is not something an offender can demand. The book includes practical exercises focusing on tangible evidence of repair, considering all affected parties, consent, support systems, and ongoing review. It integrates communal liturgical practices with individual responsibility, ensuring that collective confession does not become a substitute for specific actions. The final section extends the discussion of teshuvah beyond the High Holidays, considering how sustained change manifests after the intense emotional period of Tishrei.