Teshuvah, one of three practices marked by the sounding of the shofar during Jewish new year observances, translates literally to "return." Though teshuvah is also often understood as repentance, an ability of the soul to return in particular to its core goodness and wholeness even after transgressions have been made. This capacity to return to ourselves and to our communities is understood as a first and fundamental part of our larger capacity to atone for our errors. When you've made intrapersonal and interpersonal misjudgments and mistakes, what helps you take the first step of returning to yourself and to others and to the core goodness of people?
[image description: Two hearts stand facing each other. The heart on the left has a tear on its face and is holding a flower out to the heart on the right who has a slight smile and reaches to accept the flower. Text reads: "Return." Text also reads in Hebrew characters: "Teshuvah."]