In
Judaism, a ''ba'al teshuvah'' ( he, בעל תשובה; for a woman, , or ; plural, , , 'master of return
God">God_in_Judaism.html" ;"title="o God in Judaism">God) is a Jew who adopts some form of traditional religious observance after having previously followed a Jewish secularism">secular lifestyle or a less stringent form of Judaism.
Originally, the term referred to a Jew who transgressed the ''halakhah'' (Jewish law) knowingly or unknowingly and completed a process of introspection to "return" to the full observance of God's ''mitzvot''.
According to the ''Mishneh Torah'' of
Maimonides, the
Talmud says that a true ''ba'al teshuvah'' stands higher in ''
shamayim'' (lit. 'heaven') than a "
frum from birth", even higher than a
tzadik:
In modern times, the phrase is primarily used to refer to a Jew from a non-
Orthodox background who becomes religiously observant in an Orthodox fashion. However, there is no strict definition of a ''ba'al teshuva'' and so the concept can also encompass Orthodox-leaning Jews who become stricter in their observance, such as those who go from keeping
kosher
(also or , ) is a set of dietary laws dealing with the foods that Jewish people are permitted to eat and how those foods must be prepared according to Jewish law. Food that may be consumed is deemed kosher ( in English, yi, כּשר), fro ...
only at home to also avoiding non-
kosher restaurant
A kosher restaurant or kosher deli is an establishment that serves food that complies with Jewish dietary laws ('' kashrut''). These businesses, which also include diners, cafés, pizzerias, fast food, and cafeterias, and are frequently in list ...
s.
The alternative term, (), plural , is more commonly used in
Israel. In Hebrew, translates to 'returning to return' or 'returning to repentance'.
According to the teachings of the
Torah, "whoever judges himself will not be judged"; however, in the described history of
Talmudic times and early
Hasidism, many tzadikim were able to "see" the transgressions of others.
For the most part, the stature and the preparation of these Tzadikim presuppose a balance that allows a peaceful coexistence even with those who have committed serious transgressions because otherwise, the intent to rage against them and, worse, to obtain advantages from them would certainly prevail.
See also
*
Baal teshuva movement
*
Orthodox Judaism outreach
Orthodox Jewish outreach, often referred to as ''Kiruv'' or ''Qiruv'' ( he, קירוב "bringing close"), is the collective work or movement of Orthodox Judaism that reaches out to non-observant Jews to encourage belief in God and life accord ...
References
*
Hebrew words and phrases
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