T'Shuvah

We learn from Judaism, that through the process of t'shuvah, a people can learn from their mistakes, can grow and can change. At Milken we are committed to working with students who have committed serious violations, to create a meaningful T'shuvah process for them, through which they can reflect on how they missed the mark and what they can do to make amends and restore relationships harmed by their actions. The basic steps of T'shuvah are:

1. Admitting wrong and taking full responsibility for one’s actions.
2. Feeling regret for one’s actions and the genuine desire to do better in the future.
3. Apologizing and asking forgiveness from the wronged parties.
4. Committing oneself to acting differently in the future, and thinking through what changes will be necessary in order for that to happen, and striving to make those changes.
5. Facing the same or a similar situation as the one in which one transgressed and acting differently.

In order to be most meaningful and effective, the T'shuvah process must be shaped to the individual student and the nature of his or her transgression. For example, the T'shuvah process for a case of plagiarism might include studying and then teaching one’s peers Jewish texts that explore the problematics of genevat da’at—the theft of others’ ideas.

For years, studies have shown that simple punishment does not produce the results of changed behavior one would hope for. Often the person’s focus shifts from any consideration of their wrongful behavior and the pain it caused, to his/her anger about the punishment itself. Instead of simple punishment, through the T'shuvah process, we try to create the opportunity for reflection and change that will challenge the student to confront their poor choices and the reasons for them, so that he/she can make better choices in the future.