Rabbi Russell Jayne: Doing the work of Teshuvah

By Rabbi Russell Jayne

(Calgary) – As the season of the High Holidays approaches, we prepare ourselves once again for a sacred journey of return. The Days of Awe invite us to seriously engage with the process of teshuvah, the work of turning inward, upward, and outward. We turn inward in honest reflection on the lives we have lived this past year. We turn upward seeking the Divine, the Source of all being, who guides us with compassion and the assurance of forgiveness. And we turn outward toward our families, our communities, and our people, recognizing that none of us walks this journey of existence alone.

The work of teshuvah is not merely personal; As with all aspects of our tradition, it is deeply communal as well. When we return, we do not return only to ourselves or even to God, we return to one another and to our shared expression of covenant. Teshuvah calls us to reweave the bonds that hold us together, and to strengthen the ties of belonging that sustain us.

For centuries, the synagogue has been the beating heart of Jewish life. It is the place where Jews have gathered to pray, to learn, and to find strength in one another’s presence. During the High Holidays, when Jews around the world assemble in synagogues large and small, we affirm that our identity is not only personal but collective.

To walk through the doors of a synagogue at this season is to come home. It is to reconnect with the melodies that stir our souls, the words that lift our spirits, and the community that holds us when we are in need.

This year, the call to deepen our Jewish identity and strengthen our ties to one another continues to feel especially urgent. We are living in a time when Jewish communities face profound challenges here at home, in Israel, and around the world. In Alberta, we have witnessed a rise in antisemitism that reminds us that our safety cannot be taken for granted. Everywhere Jewish hearts ache as we witness conflict, division, and uncertainty fueled by senseless hatred.

As always, our prayers and our concerns turn toward Israel, the beating heart of our people. The land of Israel always has been, and always will remain, central to our story. The well-being of Israel is not separate from our own; it is bound up in the destiny of Am Yisrael, the Jewish people everywhere. When we pray for peace, for strength, and for renewal in the year ahead, those prayers must embrace Israel and all who dwell within her borders.

In times like these, it is tempting to feel small, to believe that we are powerless against the forces of history. But the High Holidays remind us of a profound truth: Each of us lives a significant life, and our choices will, ultimately, reverberate far beyond ourselves. The prayers of one Jew rise with the prayers of the entire community, and the actions of even one Jewish community can strengthen the fabric of our people. The wellbeing of one is linked to the wellbeing of all.

Supporting Israel, affirming Jewish life everywhere, and strengthening our local synagogues are not, and never have been, separate tasks. They are all expressions of our shared responsibility. To be Jewish is to know that we are part of something larger than ourselves, and that our lives are intertwined in both visible and invisible ways.

As you prepare your heart and soulor Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, I invite you to consider what it means for you to return this year. What would it mean to return to prayer, to bring your whole self honestly before God? What would it mean to return to your synagogue, not only on the High Holidays but throughout the year, to nurture your spiritual life and to strengthen your community? What would it mean to return to the shared destiny of our people, standing in solidarity with Jews in Israel and everywhere?

Each of us carries a unique story, and yet together we are part of one great story. That story has endured for millennia, through trial and triumph, through exile and homecoming, through despair and renewal. As we enter the New Year, may we begin writing the next chapter of that story with courage, compassion, faith, and pride.

May this new year be one of healing for those who suffer, joy for those who celebrate, and peace for our people everywhere we dwell.

Shanah Tovah U’Metukah – may you and your loved ones be blessed with a sweet, healthy, peaceful and meaningful new year.

Rabbi Russell Jayne is Senior Rabbi and Cantor at Beth Tzedec Congregation in Calgary.