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).
Yesterday our focus was on the recognition of one’s sin—the ways we have fallen short in our relationships with others, with ourselves, and with God. The next step is remorse (חרטה, charata). It’s not enough to acknowledge our transgressions, we have to feel guilt about what we’ve done. Often we think of guilt in negative ways and we try to limit it because it’s painful and certainly can be counter-productive. But we would be wise to remember that guilt has a positive, helpful role to play as well. Guilt can inspire us to change our behavior, to make amends, and to become better people. Guilt can lead us to make restitution for our trespasses (we’ll talk more about this on Thursday) and achieve forgiveness from those we’ve wronged which can help us to forgive ourselves and then let the guilty feelings go. In order to accomplish this, however, we must experience regret for our bad behavior so that we might resolve to change and be better. Reflect on what it is that you regret about your shortcomings in the year that has passed. Perhaps it’s in the way that you treated a family member or colleague. Perhaps it’s an unethical action that you took. Take some time to “sit” with your guilt and reflect on the remorse you feel about how you acted and then resolve not to behave in this way going forward.
— Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback
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