בס”ד
Teshuvah (repentance) was created before the world itself came into existence. Repentance is not merely a response to human sin, but an intrinsic part of the divine order of the universe, instilled into the creation. Teshuvah is far more than asking forgiveness; it is a spiritual process of return, a reconnection to one’s true self and to G-d.
Teshuvah consists of several steps:
Regret: The individual must sincerely regret their wrong actions.
Abandoning the Sin: A person must stop the sinful behavior and resolve not to return to it in the future.
Confession: Verbal confession before G-d, (not before a human being!) is an essential part of Teshuva.
Resolution for the Future: The final step is making a firm resolution not to repeat the sin.
The main focus on Yom Kippur is Teshuvah. Teshuvah is a central theme of the holiday season. While it often brings to mind the concept of returning from wrongdoing, teshuvah can also be a positive return to one’s true self and a deeper reconnection to G-d. All this can be done with a lot of joy knowing that one is fulfilling the King’s mission. As we enter the days of awe, this mindset encourages us to joyfully step into the year ahead differently. On these days, we strengthen our commitment to fulfill the seven Noahide commandments. Yom Kippur, though, is not a day that Noahides has to observe; they surely do not have to fast. However, teshuvah is an obligation for Noahides, as can be seen from Jonah 3, with no limitations of specific time.
Teshuvah out of love means performing repentance not merely from fear of punishment for our actions but rather, from a place of love to G-d and a sincere desire to strengthen our relationship with Him. When we approach teshuvah with joy and love, the focus is on serving G-d with joy, not on our ego. Instead of focusing solely on shortcomings, we can see the opportunity for greater awareness of the divine presence.
The main part of teshuva begins in an internal awakening, and the sincere desire to change and to be closer to Hashem. Teshuva is a divine gift, a tool for spiritual repair that transcends time and space. The core of teshuva lies in the heartfelt return to G-d. The Torah promises that once we do a sincere teshuvah, redemption will come with mercy.
By Rabbi Moshe Bernstein
If you want more questions for contemplation, SEE THE OTHER BLOGS FROM RABBI MOSHE BERNSTEIN
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