The Shofar is a ram’s horn, which is blown throughout the month of Elul and on Rosh HaShanah. Its sound is meant to arouse us to do Teshuvah. The Shofar also serves as a reminder of the ram which was “caught by its horns in the bush.” (Bereshit {Genesis} 22, 12) As the Torah recounts, […]

In modern society, a person would not appear in court (even small claims court), without preparing his or her case, so as to be able to present it to the judge in the most convincing fashion. Thus, Kal Vachomer [a Talmudic term meaning “certainly”] a person should not come into Rosh HaShanah without properly preparing […]

On the 25th day of Elul the world came into being (Midrash – Jewish Lore). Adam, the First Man, and Chava, the First Woman, were created on the last of the Six Days of Creation, the Eve of Shabbat – This day is celebrated as Rosh HaShanah. Thus, when we say on Rosh HaShanah “Today […]

When the Jewish People sinned by worshipping the Golden Calf (Shemot 32:1-6) right after receiving the Torah from G-d, in effect rejecting His great gift, Moshe broke the first set of Holy Tablets, on which were inscribed the Ten Commandments. Moshe then ascended Mount Sinai and pleaded with G-d for mercy and forgiveness on behalf […]

Shimon, the son of Lakish, was the leader of a group of bandits, during the role of the Romans, after the Destruction of the Second Temple. He had a reputation for great strength, with a wild, even violent streak. He was also supposed to have great leadership ability, with very high, if somewhat misdirected, intelligence. […]

Rabbi Akiva, as a young man, did not know a word of Torah. He worked as a shepherd for “Ben Kalba Savua,” one of the richest men in Yerushalayim. One day, Rachel, the daughter of Ben Kalba Savua, looked at Akiva and was extremely impressed by his modesty and his gentleness with her father’s flocks. […]

“Midrashim” about “Baalei Teshuvah,” People who Repented Some of the “Midrashim” found in the Talmud about “Baalei Teshuvah,” People who Repented, are as follows: “One who says, ‘I will sin, then repent; I will sin, then repent’ is not permitted to repent.” (Masechet Yoma 85b) Comment: The generosity of Hashem is infinite, but a person cannot […]

Teshuvah (Return, or Repentance) is a generous gift from G-d, which allows us to erase our improper actions through a four-step process (see below). The Torah tells us that no matter how far we stray or how many times we sin, G-d will wait for us to return to him through Teshuvah. There are four basic […]

“Midrashim” about “Teshuvah,” Repentance “Midrashim” are stories and ideas from sections of the Talmud not dealing directly with aspects of Jewish Law. The stories are either true stories about famous or not-so-famous individuals, which illustrate a moral point, obvious fables, again illustrating moral points, or philosophical ideas, derived from verses in the Bible. Some of […]

“Sin” or “Chet” in Hebrew, means “failure in our relationship with HaShem (G-d).” Our goal should be to continually move closer to G-d, But “chet” is behavior which causes us to move away from G-d. “Repentance” or “Teshuvah” in Hebrew, means “Return.” In this context, it means “Return to G-d” and to behavior required of […]