Elul 10/August 23

Rabbi Benjamin A. Sharff

One of the many challenges we are facing post October 7^th, is that there are a lot of people who have made it their mission to define Judaism for us Jews, mostly in painful and inaccurate ways. They are busily re-writing our history and lived experiences. They are reinterpreting our sacred textual traditions through a very myopic lens. Because of this, it is almost impossible to find a space to be able to live an authentically Jewish life without feeling at least called out, or even worse, under threat.

Given the weight of all of these issues, it feels overwhelming, if not impossible, to engage in the sacred work of teshuvah when one feels like they are constantly under attack simply for being Jewish. 

However, we should not be disheartened. For teshuvah is more than just ‘repentance.’ At its heart, teshuvah is about returning to the path God has laid out for us. Teshuvah can also be about re-engaging with our Judaism. It can be about recommitting to our heritage and our communities. It can be about re-discovering our voice, especially when we have felt silenced by critics. 

No matter the circumstance, our ancient prophets found ways to speak words of truth, especially to those who did not wish to hear it. Our ancestors faced persecutions across the generations and still lived proudly as Jews. Especially now, at times of great turmoil, may we find the strength to engage in teshuvah, and return to the sacred work our tradition demands of us.