The second Daniel woke up, he knew something was wrong. He felt perfectly fine, but he had no memory of who he was. Searching his house, he found a book he seemed to have written. Inside was a guide explaining his life’s story and how he suffered from amnesia, forgetting who he was at times. The book served as instructions for these moments.
As he read, Daniel discovered the book also contained a deep philosophy of life, emphasizing mission-centered living and spiritual growth. It instructed him to seek out a specific mentor. When he found him, the mentor took Daniel under his wing, teaching him the path to greatness. Daniel yearned to grow; though the process was difficult, he embraced the challenge.
Throughout life, Daniel faced financial struggles, relationship hardships, and health battles. But the book’s wisdom and his mentor’s guidance strengthened him. He confronted each test head-on — especially his encounters with his arch-nemesis, Aaron. It seemed Aaron’s purpose was to undermine Daniel’s every goal, pushing him two steps back for every step forward. Yet Daniel persevered, constantly regaining his footing and pushing onward.
After years of growth, learning, and contribution, Daniel became nearly perfect. One day, he awoke to find the world vanish beneath him and stood face-to-face with…himself.
“I’m sure you’re confused,” the other Daniel said. “I am the original Daniel. I was created perfect. Everything came easily, but at the end, I realized something was missing: I didn’t want to be perfect; I wanted to become perfect.
“I created a younger version of myself without memory of who he was, giving him an arch-nemesis to challenge him and force him to grow. I left him a book to guide him back to perfection. You, Daniel, are part of me. Through your journey, I’ve experienced becoming perfect. Now you’ve reached that state and can enjoy what you’ve built.”
A New Year
The birth of a new year is a time for reflection, hope, and resolve. We envision our future and dream of making the rest of our life the best of our life. But for many, there’s frustration. Too often, our Rosh Hashanah resolutions resemble those from last year — and the year before.
Moments of inspiration are powerful but fleeting, often fading soon after the shofar’s echoes dissipate. Yet there’s another way: by deeply understanding the themes of this time of year, we can turn fleeting sparks into lasting change.
The Deeper Themes of Teshuvah
Elul and Rosh Hashanah center on teshuvah, returning to our essence. Parashas Nitzavim ties closely to this theme, speaking of choosing life and reconnecting with Hashem.
The Gemara teaches that teshuvah preceded creation. Before the world existed, the concept of returning to our source was already in place. This hints at teshuvah’s cosmic centrality: it’s built into the foundation of existence.
The Practical Form of Teshuvah
The Rambam outlines three steps:
Reflect and Acknowledge – Recognize past mistakes.
Regret – Feel the pain of having strayed.
Resolve – Commit not to repeat the behavior.
This process is the foundation of personal change. But beneath it lies a deeper essence: teshuvah is not simply self-improvement — it’s self-return.
True Teshuvah: Returning to Your Higher Self
Teshuvah means reconnecting with our truest selves. The Gemara (Niddah 30b) teaches that before birth, a malach taught us the entirety of Torah — not only its revealed wisdom but also the deepest truths, including our personal mission. We experienced a vision of our perfection, our purpose, and what we were meant to become.
Then we were born into this world and forgot. Life’s mission is to rediscover what we already know deep within, to recreate ourselves, this time by choice. By overcoming challenges, we fulfill our potential and align with the perfect version of ourselves we once saw.
This is why the shofar’s cry is so central to Rosh HaShanah. It awakens us from spiritual slumber, calling us to return to our authentic essence. The word “shofar” shares a root with le’shaper — “to perfect” — and connects to mei shafir, the amniotic fluid surrounding the fetus. The shofar reminds us to return to that original state of perfection and reignite the purpose we once knew.
The Three Stages of Teshuvah
Teshuvah unfolds in three dimensions:
Personal Teshuvah – Returning to your higher, truest self.
Communal Teshuvah – Reconnecting with the collective soul of Klal Yisrael.
Ultimate Teshuvah – Returning fully to Hashem, the Source of all.
Communal Teshuvah
The Rambam writes that one who separates from the Jewish community has no share in Olam Haba — even if they follow mitzvos and live uprightly. Why?
Because detachment from Klal Yisrael is detachment from reality itself. Our souls are interconnected, like individual cells within a single body. To cut oneself off from the collective is to sever life’s very source. Teshuvah, therefore, calls us not only to repair ourselves but also to reconnect with the community and recognize our shared spiritual identity.
Returning to Hashem
The highest level of teshuvah is returning to Hashem Himself, the Source of all souls and existence. The Nefesh HaChaim calls Hashem the neshamah shel neshamos, the “Soul of all souls.” At our deepest root, we are expressions of the Divine, and our journey through life leads us back to Him.
This explains the Gemara’s teaching that teshuvah predates creation: the entire purpose of existence is to return to its Source. Our personal, communal, and spiritual teshuvah all culminate in reuniting with Hashem.
Rosh HaShanah offers a profound opportunity. The shofar awakens us. The day invites reflection on who we are, where we’ve been, and where we’re heading. By embracing the three dimensions of teshuvah — personal, communal, and ultimate — we can realign with our higher selves, our people, and our Creator.
This year, let us transform fleeting inspiration into lasting change. May we return to our truest selves, reunite with Klal Yisrael, and reconnect with Hashem, the Source of all life.
May we be inscribed and sealed for a year of growth, clarity, and closeness — in the book of life, the book of true existence.
Rabbi Shmuel Reichman is the author of the bestselling book, The Journey to Your Ultimate Self, which serves as an inspiring gateway into deeper Jewish thought. He is an international speaker, educator, and the CEO of Self-Mastery Academy. After obtaining his BA from Yeshiva University, he received s’micha from RIETS, a master’s degree in education, a master’s degree in Jewish Thought, and then spent a year studying at Harvard. He is currently pursuing a PhD at UChicago. To invite Rabbi Reichman to speak in your community or to enjoy more of his deep and inspiring content, visit his website: www.ShmuelReichman.com.
