Baal teshuva or ba'al teshuvah (Hebrew: בעל תשובה; for a woman, בעלת תשובה, baalat teshuva; plural, בעלי תשובה, baalei teshuva), sometimes abbreviated to BT, is a term referring to a Jewish person who embraces Orthodox Judaism. Baal teshuva literally means, "master of return", i.e., one who has repented or "returned" to God. It is often contrasted with "FFB" (Frum From Birth), which refers to Orthodox Jews who are born into families that are already religiously observant, and who have been practicing Judaism from birth or a young age.
Historically, the term referred to a Jew who transgressed the halakhah (Jewish law) and completed a process of introspection to "return" to the straight path. In contemporary times, the phrase is primarily used to refer to a Jew from a secular background who becomes religiously observant (normally in an Orthodox fashion) later in life. (The alternative term, khozer biteshuva (חוזר בתשובה) is more commonly used in Israel).
The Talmud expresses high regard for baalei teshuva with the statement, "In the place where baalei teshuva stand, even the perfectly righteous cannot stand" (Berakhot 34b)."
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Baal teshuva movement
There are numerous baal teshuva movements and organizations that seek to encourage this.
Famous baalei teshuva
See also
- Orthodox Judaism outreach
- Chabad
- Oorah (organization)
- Aish HaTorah
- Ohr Somayach
- The Jerusalem Kollel
External links
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