Repentance The Meaning and Practice of <em>Teshuvah</em> [Paperback]

An inspiring way to reclaim your integrity and renew your sense of moral purpose.

Like water,teshuvahis both destructive and creative. It dissolves the person you were but simultaneously provides the moisture you need to grow anew. It erodes the hard edges of your willfulness but also refreshens your spirit. It can turn the tallest barriers of moral blindness into rubble while it also gently nourishes the hidden seeds of hope buried deep in your soul.Teshuvah, like water, has the power both to wash away past sin and to shower you with the blessing of a new future, if only you trust it and allow yourself to be carried along in its current. from Part VII

In this candid and comprehensive probe into the nature of moral transgression and spiritual healing, Dr. Louis E. Newman examines both the practical and philosophical dimensions ofteshuvah, Judaism's core religious-moral teaching on repentance, and its value for usJews and non-Jews aliketoday. He exposes the inner logic of teshuvah as well as the beliefs about God and humankind that make it possible. He also charts the path of teshuvah, revealing to us how we can free ourselves from the burden of our own transgressions by:
Acknowledging our transgressions Confessing Feeling remorse Apologizing Making restitution Soul reckoning Avoiding sin when the next opportunity arises

Foreword: The Yet ofTeshuvahTurning xv
Preface: Our Human Capacity for Change xix
Acknowledgments xxi
Introduction: ExploringTeshuvah1

Part I: The Nature of Sin 13
1. Dimensions of Sin 15
2. Sin as Illness 19
3. SufferingShekhlÃ0