Geulah

September 28, 2025

During this season we think of atonement. We wonder, will our names be written for life or for death in the coming year. Will we be redeemed or will we be rejected? Believers in Yeshua Ha’Mashiach, also consider the book of life, beyond the year, into eternity. Will our names be written in it or left out?

Yet, as I ponder on these things, I also think of b’tzelem Elohim. We have each been created in the image of Gd. I think of how I have treated others, treated myself, and allowed others to treat me over the year. (Really, the years.) Who have I failed to treat as I would, if I kept in mind, they are Gd’s children, created in His image? In what ways have I failed to treat myself with that truth in mind? What have I tolerated, that I shouldn’t? And have I lived as though I myself am created in His image? Have I walked with loving-kindness? Have I treated others with patience? Etc.

As I dive into this season of self reflection, of course, redemption comes to mind. It is one thing to practice teshuva and selicha, it’s a whole other to experience redemption.

To be redeemed is to be freed from the weight, the burden, the distresses, and harms of our wrongdoings, as well as the wrong doings of others.

It is to be able to remember the past without it tearing open old wounds. To know the wrong we’ve done and to know that the version of ourselves that did that is not the version we are now. To know that the ones who hurt us, can do so no longer.

It is to be reconnected to Gd. To enter His presence. To receive the fullness of our relationship with Him. And as we are made b’tzelem Elohim, redemption is also to reconnect with one another, entering into each others presence, once again, in the fullness of relationship.

I recently came across a metta (loving-kindness) meditation from, Rabbi Sheila Weinberg, as I was reading, “Jewish Spiritual Parenting”, by Rabbi Kipnes and Michielle November. A way of acknowledging tzelem Elohim in ourselves and in others. I loved it, because the focus is on speaking blessings over ourselves or others, one person at a time, with intentional focus and attention.

”May (name)/ I be blessed with love (chesed).
May (name)/ I be blessed with compassion (rachamim).
May (name)/ I be blessed with joy (simcha).
May (name)/ I be blessed with peace (shalom).”

I would like to add to it,
May (name)/ I be blessed with redemption (geulah).