adamavshamayim:Maslow’s Hierarchy Teshuva StyleThis time of year, (Elul, Rosh Hashanah, and Yo

adamavshamayim:

Maslow’s Hierarchy Teshuva Style

This time of year, (Elul, Rosh Hashanah, and Yom Kippur), Jewish communities stress the importance of teshuva, which is translated as repentance or return and generally understood as apologizing to Hashem and to other people for any mistakes made over the past year.

If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am only for myself, who am I? If not now, when? - Hillel, Pirkei Avot

But for anyone struggling with safety, mental health, abuse, trauma, or a variety of other things, the task of apologizing to Hashem and other people for your mistakes over the year is just not possible. You are important. Your struggles are valid and an important part of teshuva. You might not be doing the same teshuva as a lot of your community, but you are doing teshuva. You are working hard on yourself, work that is difficult and not to be underestimated. And it is work that must be done before you can approach the rest of the pyramid. Maybe in a few years you’ll be able to approach the high holiday season the same way as what can look like most other people are. 

Thank you to those who I talked this idea through with.