Teshuvah Prompts - Thoughts for the days between Rosh Hashanah and Kol Nidre

The 10 days starting with Rosh Hashanah Evening and ending with Yom Kippur are known as Aseret Yemei Teshuvah, or the Ten Days of Repentance. As the movie tells it, much is “Lost in Translation.” Teshuvah and repentance are not quite the same. Repentance is reactive, Teshuvah is more proactive, as we contemplate how we can be better people in the coming year.

On Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, our prayers, music, and the rabbi’s sermons serve to guide us in both processes, reflecting on our thoughts and actions of the past year, and thinking forward to the next twelve months. But what about those seven days in between?

This series of thoughts for the days between Rosh Hashanah and Kol Nidre is intended to offer us ways to think of ourselves in relation to being Jewish, acknowledging the challenges and opportunities of being created in the image of God.

While one might be tempted to read these prompts at once, the spiritual exercise is more impactful when they are read one day at a time. 

Rabbi Nicolas L. Behrmann

Wednesday, September 24, “What if we asked AI about Repentance and Teshuvah?”

Thursday, September 25, “What if to be Jewish were based on behavior rather than dogma?”

Friday, September 26, “What’s in your Jonah File?”

Saturday, September 27, “Who by fire?”

Sunday, September 28, “The Akedah, with all its issues.”

Monday, September 29, “We are not born in sin, we are not born sinners.”

Tuesday, September 30, “What if creativity, innovation, and transformation were added to our vocabulary?”