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VideoAt Rosh Hashanah, as we turn to new beginnings, we seek to repent—to do teshuvah—for what we have done wrong. And we can also affirmatively foster ourselves toward resilience—toward a thriving, loving outlook in spite of whatever challenges we encounter in life. In this video, I explore themes of resilience embedded into Jewish practice.
Rabbi Toba Spitzer explores the obstacles to prayer posed by stale language about God, and suggests new language that may ease our way in finding connection.
The Talmud tells us that God created repentance (teshuvah) before creating the physical world. As Billy Joel once sang, “we’re only human, we’re supposed to make mistakes.” It’s how we respond to mistakes, how we grow, that matters. This video explores the twin themes of teshuvah and gratitude (hakarat hatov.) Our tradition offers us practices that cultivate self-reflection and humility, relationship and repair. We hope these words offer some comfort and guidance as you undergo your own process of teshuvah and, in meaningful relationships with others, make Godliness present in the world.
In this Rosh Hashanah video message, Rabbi Deborah Waxman, president of Reconstructing Judaism, explores the ways in which remembering the past is crucial to moving forward into a sweet New Year.
Examination of Rabbi Kelilah Miller’s papercut, “Human, Why Do You Sleep?”
A guided meditation on Psalm 27
Study sheet on the different interpretations of “sin” throughout Jewish history.
Study sheet on the relationship between Parashat Nitzavim and themes of teshuvah.
This study sheet on teshuvah and compassion draws our attention to the interplay between our ability to forgive others, and God's ability to forgive us.
This study sheet contains two parables of the King and the returning son by the Baal Shem Tov, as well one of Kafka's parables, “The Imperial Messenger,” which has some intriguing echoes of and stark contrasts with the first two stories.
A study sheet on the evolving concept of teshuvah over the ages.
A text study on Parshat Nitzavim on teshuvah, featuring teachings from Itturei Torah and Rabbi Sandy Roth (of blessed memory).
In this video, Rabbi Deborah Waxman offers a High Holiday message of hope in spite of the problems confronting the world and the personal travails we all face.
A perspective on forgiveness as a spiritual practice as well as a moral act
This file contains a helpful glossary of terms for Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Shmini Atzeret and Simchat Torah. It begins with a letter to parents suggesting themes to think about during the holiday season.
Rabbi Alan LaPayover (RRC ‘02), recorded the prayers of the Reconstructionist liturgy for the High Holiday services. The sound files are available for listening and download from links on this page.
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