SHABBAT SHUVAH

Saturday – September 27th – 10 am Shabbat Shuvah Service

Shabbat Shuvah (שַׁבַּת שׁוּבָה), also known as the Sabbath of Return or Sabbath of Repentance, is the Shabbat (Saturday) that falls between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, during the Ten Days of Repentance (Aseret Yemei Teshuvah).

Why it’s called Shabbat Shuvah:

The name comes from the Haftarah (prophetic reading) for that week, which begins with the words from Hosea 14:2:

“Shuvah Yisrael ad Adonai Elohecha” – “Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God.”

Significance:

• It’s a time of spiritual reflection, return (teshuvah), and preparation for Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

• Rabbis often deliver special sermons focusing on repentance, ethical living, and self-improvement.

• The themes of the prayers and Torah readings center on returning to God, seeking forgiveness, and mending relationships—both human and divine.

In essence, Shabbat Shuvah bridges the New Year’s judgment of Rosh Hashanah and the final sealing of fate on Yom Kippur, urging the community to return and repair.