What Are the Ten Days of Repentance?

The Aseret Yemei Teshuvah (עֲשֶׂרֶת יְמֵי תְּשׁוּבָה)—the Ten Days of Repentance—span from Rosh Hashanah through Yom Kippur. This period is considered uniquely favorable for repentance, prayer, and reconciliation, offering a special window of divine accessibility.

The Concept

According to Jewish tradition, on Rosh Hashanah judgment is inscribed; on Yom Kippur it is sealed. The ten days between offer opportunity to influence the verdict through sincere teshuvah (repentance), tefillah (prayer), and tzedakah (charity).

דִּרְשׁוּ יְהוָה בְּהִמָּצְאוֹ קְרָאֻהוּ בִּהְיוֹתוֹ קָרוֹב

Translation: Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. (Isaiah 55:6)

Special Practices

Prayer Additions

Increased Charity

Extra tzedakah is given during this period, fulfilling the teaching that charity can avert a harsh decree.

Seeking Forgiveness

These days are devoted to approaching those we have wronged and sincerely seeking their forgiveness.

Extra Stringency

Some adopt stricter practices during these days, eating only chalav Yisrael (Jewish-supervised dairy) or pas Yisrael (Jewish-baked bread), demonstrating heightened spiritual sensitivity.

Shabbat Shuvah

). Rabbis traditionally deliver a major sermon on this Shabbat, encouraging the congregation to repentance.

The Fast of Gedaliah

The day after Rosh Hashanah is the Fast of Gedaliah, a minor fast commemorating the assassination of the Jewish governor of Judea after the destruction of the First Temple. It adds a note of mourning to the repentance period.

Teshuvah: Not Just Regret

True teshuvah involves three components: recognition of wrong (hakarat hachet), sincere regret (charatah), and resolve not to repeat the behavior (kabbalah l'atid). The Rambam teaches that complete teshuvah is demonstrated when one faces the same temptation and chooses differently.

Universal and Personal

), acknowledging collective responsibility. Yet each individual must also engage in personal accounting—cheshbon hanefesh—examining their own soul.