Teshuvah (Repentance) – A Daunting Task?
As we enter the month of Elul, many people become more somber. They realize that judgment day is around the corner, and that they need to behave themselves. They know they must repent for what they’ve done and they have to begin to live the life of a tzaddik. It certainly seems daunting. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
I recently heard a speech by R’ Avrohom Rudner, lately of Toronto, Canada, and he shared an idea which turns our perspective of teshuvah (repentance) on its head. Most of us think that when we give in to our desires, Hashem (God) doesn’t love us. He only will begin to like us again when we walk the straight and narrow, and don’t do anything wrong. But in truth, Hashem loves us so much that he built an escape route into Creation.
Teshuvah – The Escape Route
The Midrash tells us that Teshuvah was created before the world was. Why? If there’s nobody there to sin, what do we need teshuvah for? To answer, let’s start with another thing Chazal (our sages, of blessed memory) have told us. A nevuah, a prophecy, for good, MUST come true. A prophecy for bad, need not come true. For example, the prophet Yonah said that in forty days Nineveh would be overturned. Yet, it wasn’t. Why not? Because the people did teshuvah.
Rabbeinu Bachya gives an amazing explanation for how this works. He says that nevuah was part of Creation. When the world came into being, so did the methodology for Hashem to communicate with us through prophets. However, Teshuvah existed BEFORE nevuah was created, which means it trumps prophecy. When the Navi (Prophet) says, “You have been wicked and therefore this will befall you,” Teshuvah comes forward and says, “Excuse me, but I was here first.” If we do teshuvah, it pushes the evil decree off the map.
October Seventh and the Power of Teshuvah
Let’s think about what that means. Last Rosh Hashana, it was decreed that on Shemini Atzeret, October 7, there would be an attack of monstrous proportions. People were sealed in the Book of Death, and others were slated to be taken hostage. Let’s not forget that anything that happens to Jews in this world is part of Hashem’s decree, not left to the whims of the wicked. They can do no harm unless Hashem has decreed it.
Some parts of the decree were finalized on October 7, while others had more time. Tragically, we just heard of six of our brothers and sisters who were killed after having been hostages for months and months. Perhaps, Hashem is sending us a message. Perhaps, if we do teshuvah now, in that zechut (merit) we can reverse some of the decrees on the others who are still being held hostage.
The Purpose of Trouble is to Get Us into Prayer
It’s an amazing tool, and so empowering, knowing that teshuvah was specifically set up by Hashem to negate evil decrees. The purpose of suffering is often to get us to connect with Hashem. People who don’t think of Hashem in their day-to-day lives often turn to Him when things get rough. They daven when people are sick or when they can’t pay their bills. Rabbi Hutner z”l was quoted as saying, “The purpose of prayer isn’t to get us out of trouble. The purpose of trouble is to get us into prayer.”
The Creation of Teshuvah – A Message of Love
Also, teshuvah doesn’t have to be an overnight transformation. You can work on yourself slowly, and tell Hashem, “I’m coming. It may take me some time, but I’m making my way back to You.” Maybe today, I’ll hold myself back once from saying something I ought not to, and tomorrow I’ll work up to more. But I’ve turned myself around.
One of the most famous explanations of Elul as an acronym comes from the Avudraham, who says it stands for, “Ani l’dodi v’dodi li, I am for my beloved and my beloved is for me.” The syntax of l’dodi, TO my beloved, connotes the fact that we each want to come closer to the other party. This is the time.
It’s not about behaving and not doing what I want. It’s about realizing that what I want is to make Hashem happy; that it gives me pleasure and peace of mind. Recognizing that Hashem created teshuvah specifically to help us, should also make us feel loved and wanted by Him.
Let’s Repent Before the World’s Creation
There’s another month until Rosh Hashana. Let’s start coming back to Hashem now, before the anniversary of when the world and Man was created, at the time when only teshuvah existed, and turn over any remaining evil decrees. Let’s bring home the hostages in Gaza, as well as all of Hashem’s lost children. Let’s show Him that on this Rosh Hashana, when we’ve turned ourselves around, He can decree for Klal Yisrael (The Jewish Nation) all sorts of wonderful things, which must come true in the coming year.
By Rabbi Jonathan Gewirtz
Rabbi Gewirtz (Operation Inspiration) welcomes comments and feedback. Write to him at info@JewishSpeechWriter.com to share your thoughts. You never know when you may be the lamp that enlightens someone else.
