By Adam Siegel
Well, we’ve reached the point of summer when we can’t believe that people are starting to talk about the High Holidays. As the daylight begins to shorten, members of the Beit T’Shuvah community are beginning their own preparations.
The High Holidays are a time of transition – a time to celebrate beginnings and endings, a time to examine the past and take up the work of the New Year. We prepare for this transition by coming together with ourselves and with others, and we’re given the chance to do t’shuvah – to re-connect, to repair.
Each of us is a Holy Soul, which is realized by (re) connecting with our Source. Engaging in t’shuvah teaches us that we are not perfect…and that we can make amends, be forgiven, and commit ourselves to new responses. The rabbis instruct us to do t’shuvah every day of our lives, but we may often neglect this. Elul, the month preceding the High Holidays, offers us the opportunity to take up this type of work.
For over twenty-five years, Beit T’Shuvah has helped thousands of people examine and embrace all parts of themselves as they pursue a path of decency. As we all know, growth on this path requires our willingness to engage in t’shuvah. Drawing upon our rich tradition of text and commentary, Beit T’Shuvah has developed a unique framework for helping people understand and actively engage in this process. We will be hosting a workshop, open to the greater community, which will provide participants with a toolkit— through study, exploration, and planning— to hold and guide us through this process.
Each of us must find our own path on our journey to wholeness, to mending our brokenness. This workshop will provide the practical knowledge and support to begin our preparations. We hope you will join us on the journey towards t’shuvah.
Here’s a link for more info and online registration:
asiegel@beittshuvah.org / 310-204-5200 x351)
