On Repentance And Repair: Making Amends in an Unapologetic World
by Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg
This year, our community will join together to read Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg’s new work: “On Repentance And Repair: Making Amends in an Unapologetic World.”
Rooted in the teachings of Maimonides, this new work teaches how forgiveness is much less important than the repair work to which the person who caused harm is obligated. The word traditionally translated as repentance really means something more like return, and in this book, returning is a restoration, as much as is possible, to the victim, and, for the perpetrator of harm, a coming back, in humility and intentionality, to behaving as the person we might like to believe we are.
Rooted in traditional Jewish concepts and speaking poignantly to the problems and crises of our time, “On Repentance and Repair” is a book for anyone who cares about creating a country and culture that is more whole than the one in which we live, and for anyone who has been hurt or who is struggling to take responsibility for their mistakes.
This Elul, we will spend time studying and learning from this important book as we prepare for our own season of repentance, repair and renewal.