Teshuvah-Special
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Please do NOT visit this site on שַׁבָּת - Shabbat or on
the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim -
Feasts!
Tanakh versions:
Throughout this site I
use any of the following three versions of the Tanakh: 1. “Jewish Publication Society” (JPS-1917), 2. “Mechon-Mamre.org”
(MEC), and 3. “Sefaria.org”
(SEF),
three brilliant versions!
Colour coded details of our beloved TaNaKh:
1. Torah =
History & Law, 2. Nevi’im = The Prophets. 3. *Ketuvim = all
other Writings.
*The Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical books -
Psalms, Proverbs, Job, the Megillot, or Scrolls
- Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations of Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, and
Esther, prophecy of Daniel, and history of Ezra, Nehemiah, and
Chronicles I & II.
Please Note: Some
alterations or (additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’
of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim,
having been corrected like it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.
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Remember the following truth from our beloved
Torah!
“Ye
shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM IT, that ye may
keep the commandments of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem,
which I command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy
4:2. (JPS-1917).
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With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Introduction:
‘Teshuvah’ (repentance) in Hebraism, particularly as articulated by Rabbi Maimonides, is a rigorous ‘Five Step’ process focused on repairing harm rather than just feeling guilt. It requires ‘owning the harm’, ‘ceasing the action’, ‘restitution’, ‘apology’, and ‘behavioral change’, ‘prioritizing the victim’s needs over the offender’s.
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Let
us first read Devarim - Deuteronomy Chapter 30; v 1 to 10: (JPS-1970 version of the Torah).
1. “And it shall come to pass, when all these things are
come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and
thou shalt bethink thyself among all the nations, whither
יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֶיךָ - the LORD thy Eloheicha
(God) hath driven thee,
2. and shalt return unto יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֶיךָ - the LORD thy Eloheicha,
and hearken to His Voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and
thy children, with all thy heart, and with all thy soul;
3. that then יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֶיךָ - the LORD thy Eloheicha
will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and
gather thee from all the peoples, whither יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֶיךָ - the LORD thy Eloheicha
hath scattered thee.
4. If any of thine that are
dispersed be in the uttermost parts of heaven, from thence will יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֶיךָ - the LORD thy Eloheicha
gather thee, and from thence will He fetch thee.
5. And יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֶיךָ - the LORD thy Eloheicha
will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and He will do thee good, and multiply
thee above thy fathers.
6. And יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֶיךָ - the LORD thy Eloheicha
will circumcise thy heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֶיךָ - the LORD thy Eloheicha
with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest
live.
7. And יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֶיךָ - the LORD thy Eloheicha
will put all these curses upon thine enemies, and on
them that hate thee, that persecuted thee.
8. And thou shalt return and
hearken to the voice ofיְהוָה - the LORD, and do all His commandments which
I command thee this day.
9. And יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֶיךָ - the LORD thy Eloheicha
will make thee over-abundant in all the work of thy hand, in the fruit of thy
body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy land, for good;
forיְהוָה - the LORD will again rejoice over thee for
good, as He rejoiced over thy fathers;
10. if thou shalt
hearken to the voice of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֶיךָ - the LORD thy Elohheicha,
to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this book of the
law; if thou turn unto יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֶיךָ - the LORD thy Eloheicha
with all thy heart, and with all thy soul”.
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Core Components of ‘Teshuvah’ (Repair):
Definition: Teshuvah literally means to “return” returning to the right path or to oneself.
The 5-Step Process (Maimonides):
Naming/Owning: Confessing
and acknowledging the specific harm caused, without excuses!
Starting to Change: Taking active steps to change our behavior.
Restitution/Consequences: Making amends to the victim and accepting
responsibility.
Apology: A direct, sincere acknowledgment of the wrongdoing
to the person harmed.
Different Choices: Committing to and acting differently if the same
situation arises.
Interpersonal vs. Divine: For harm done to another person, אֱלֹהִים - Elohim does not forgive until the offender has made direct, personal amends to the victim.
"On Repentance and Repair" Context:
These
Maimonidean steps to modern issues such as systemic
racism, and institutional injustice, focusing on holding perpetrators
accountable while sadly protecting
victims.
The Focus on Action: True ‘teshuvah’ requires changing one’s life,
not just apologizing.
National Repentance: The framework applies to ‘institutions’ and
‘nations’, suggesting that consistent, ‘deep work is necessary to fix systemic
harm’.
The process is
designed to turn the offender into a person who will not cause the same harm in
the future!
There is no doubt but
often human nature is not very good asking for forgiveness, it is essential, to
both אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, but those who have been offended
personally! I trust that the above has been a good guidance!
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Please Note: “hebraicstudies” links
are located down the page!
This site was originally
created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and wonderful faith. Thus
be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or three times a day (if
possible) and always seek our beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance, for His
love is always with us, especially when we seek Him, blessed be He! However
this site has become very much a teaching site with hundreds of studies!
Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be
He, said the following via several of our prophets...
“Return
unto Me,
and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD of
hosts”. Mal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. (JPS).
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“Hebraic Studies”
motto is as follows;
He is the one who gave us our Life!”
May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts. be with you, and please always
uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat,
as well as the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim -
Feasts, and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s - Prayers and
regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s - blessings before
food and drinks, etc!
שָׁלוֹם
עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!
Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben
Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
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