Individual Teshuvah, With the Community

Teshuva requires that a person make an honest assessment of his spiritual standing. To do this, it would seem ideal to isolate oneself from all distractions, to focus on one’s past deeds. Why do we see, that on Yom Kippur – the main day for Teshuvah of the whole year – we spend the entire day in a public place, in synagogue, together with so many others?

By nature, every person is somewhat partial to himself. For a complete personal evaluation, one needs the objective opinion of a friend to make him aware of a shortcoming to which his own self-love may blind him.

Each friend can offer insights in the area he is most sensitive to. Thus, when one consults several individuals in his spiritual progress, this betters the chance that he will make a proper accounting of his actions – resulting in a true and complete return to G‑d.