The usual word for sin, averah, is from the root avar, “to pass over,” hence “transgression,” overriding God’s will, The usual word for repentance is teshuvah, meaning “turning”– that is, from sin to God....

Discover the power of repentance. This Yom Kippur, turn your sins into merit before the Holy One Blessed Be He. Resh Lakish said: Great is repentance, for because of it premeditated sins are accounted...

Return Again | Teshuvah and Rosh Hashanah Teshuvah is an essential part of returning to God. Rosh Hashanah is a time of introspection and self-examination Discover how you can help to expedite redemption through...

The opening words of the haftarah from Hosea, “Shuvah Yisrael—Return, O Israel, to the Lord your G-d, for you have fallen because of your sin” (14:2). “To the Lord” is understood as meaning to...

This part three of the laws of idolatry from Rambam’s Mishneh Torah. The Mishneh Torah (Hebrew: מִשְׁנֵה תּוֹרָה‎‎, “Repetition of the Torah”), subtitled Sefer Yad ha-Hazaka (ספר יד החזקה “Book of the Strong Hand”),...

The Consequences of the Covenant | Parashat HaAzinu We learn in HaAtzinu that we cannot escape from G-d and His Covenant, with its privileges, responsibilities and its terrible sanctions. The stark severity of the message...

By Yonah Bar Maoz “The Temple, Idolatry, and Exile | “The Place The Lord will Choose“. Parashat Va-Yelekh mentions for the last time the demand to come to the Lord’s Sanctuary. This location is defined...

The story of Moses’ death in this week’s reading has received extensive literary treatment from Tannaitic times through the Middle Ages, in a wide variety of Jewish works.The narrative told in the Bible reveals...

Parshas NITZAVIM is always read on the last Shabbos before Rosh HaShanah (New Year) and is often (though not always) coupled with its sister parshah of VAYELECH, with which it shares the same theme....

Rabbi Yaakov Cohen brings down a beautiful lecture on connecting to HaShem at Rosh Hashanah. Nitzavim, Nitsavim, Nitzabim, Netzavim, or Nesabim (נִצָּבִים‎ — Hebrew for “ones standing,” the second word, and the first distinctive...