Maimonides on Teshuvah: The Ways of Repentance

In The Ways of Repentance, Moses Maimonides (1138-1204) created the first comprehensive study of repentance (teshuvah) in Jewish literary history. In this remarkable work, Maimonides surveys the philosophical, psychological, and practical aspects of repentance. Carefully weaving threads drawn from the rich tapestry of Jewish religious writings, Maimonides describes the theoretical foundations of teshuvah (free will vs. predeterminism, nature vs. nurture, and conceptions of the afterlife) and provides concrete recommendations for readers who yearn for the cleansing power of repentance.