Teshuva

Teshuva (Hebrew: תְּשׁוּבָה) is a central concept in Judaism indicating repentance or return to a path of moral and religious integrity after wrongdoing. Etymologically, it means "return" from the root sh.v.h. It encompasses more than regret: it is an active process by which a person acknowledges sin, ceases the harmful act, confesses the sin to God (and to others when appropriate), and resolves not to repeat it. For sins against other people, teshuva includes restitution and seeking forgiveness from the injured party.

In classical rabbinic literature, teshuva is codified as a four-step process: recognizing the wrong, feeling regret and remorse, ceasing the transgression, and making a sincere confession before God; often followed by a commitment to change and, where possible, restitution. The Mishnah and later codifiers, notably Maimonides in Hilchot Teshuva, present these steps and emphasize that teshuva is possible for almost any sin, though forgiveness in human terms may depend on repair and apology.

The scope of teshuva ranges from personal ethics to interpersonal harm and communal wrongdoing. In Kabbalistic and Hasidic thought, teshuva is linked to spiritual repair and the gathering of divine sparks, sometimes described as a rebuilding of the soul rather than merely a legal repentance. In modern Jewish practice, teshuva is encouraged year-round, with intensified emphasis during the High Holidays as a time for repentance, forgiveness, and renewal.