TESHUVA
- YOM HADIN
Another name for Rosh Hashana is Yom Hadin, or
the "Day of Judgment". That notion of "judgment" is based
on the fact that everyone makes mistakes. We do not have
unlimited energy and we cannot always live up to our own expectations,
much less those of others. Teshuva or repentance,
allows us to resolve these conflicts throughout the year
but is particularly relevant during Rosh Hashana. Repentance consists
of several steps in the Jewish tradition, including recognition
and admission of the wrong doing, and renunciation of
the action. Teshuva also requires restitution to
the wronged party and and a promise not to repeat the
offense.
The theme of repentance figures into most of the
rituals and prayers of Rosh Hashana. In the synagogue,
we modify some of the usual holiday prayers and add
additional sections to highlight the importance of teshuva
on Rosh Hashahna. In Unetaneh Tokef, the cantor
(chazzan) prays that through repentance, prayer,
and charity, our lot with be cast with the good of the
world. Before a final declaration of faith, the chazzan
sings about the transience of life, reminding us that
all members of humanity have the same origins and the
same fates.
But while prayers allow us to feel closer to G-d,
teshuva demands that we also seek the forgiveness
of people we have wronged over the past year. It is traditional
for Jewish people on Rosh Hashana to reflect upon the
events of the previous twelve months and apologize to those people
they have hurt. The hope is that we can start the new
year with a clean slate and avoid some of the past mistakes
that hurt other people and ourselves in the.
Repentance is also the important concept in the ritual
of
tashlich, where we symbolically cast our sins away.
Though repentance is central to Rosh Hashana and Yom
Kippur (and the ten days in between) the hope of all
of our prayers and apologies is that we will truly take
steps towards becoming a better person in the year to
come.
Other names for Rosh Hashanah: Yom
Hazikaron , Yom
Teruah
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