פרשת וילך שבת שובה
Currently, we find
ourselves in the Yamim Noraim, situated between Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur. As
we wait impending judgment, it is most fitting to discuss the mitzva of
teshuva. Now is the time to change. In this week’s haftara, Hoshea courageously
admonishes us “Return O Israel to the Lord your G-d!!!” Indeed, this is a very
important mitzvah. However, to understand it a little better, we must ask the
following question. We learn out the obligation of doing teshuva from the
following verse: “And it will be when one will become guilty of one of these
things and he will confess that which he has sinned.” (Vayikra 5:5) Why do we
need a pasook for teshuva? Isn’t it obvious that when someone does the wrong
thing he has to stop and never do it ever again? Doing so is not a fulfillment
of the mitzvah of teshuva! It’s merely fulfilling the Torah itself!!!
The Rambam in the first
chapter of Hilchos Teshuva writes that the real mitzvah of teshuva is vidui,
loosely translated as “confessing.” According to the Rambam, when one does an
aveira it’s needless to say that he needs to stop and also regret what he has
done. However, confessing is counterintuitive. Before whom are you confessing
your transgressions? G-d!!! The All-Knowing All-Powerful Creator of All!!!
Nevertheless, there is a mitzvah to do teshuva– a mitzvah to confess. So
what’s the point of vidui? The Pachad Yitzhak explains that the purpose of
confessing is not to share with G-d what He already knows. Rather when we say
“Sorry Hashem for doing ____” we are really verbalizing and affirming what is
already in our hearts. By orally recanting over our deeds, we are taking full
responsibility for what we have done. In this way, we are actually beating the
Satan, the prosecuting angel, to the punch. Before he gets a chance to accuse
us in the heavenly court, we accuse ourselves! Hashem, by giving us the mitzvah
of teshuva, which is really vidui according to the Rambam, gave us an
incredible gift. By declaring our sins before Hashem, we atone for ourselves,
taking away any reason for Hashem to punish us for what we have done.
However, my illustrious
great uncle, the Meshesh Hochma, has a different answer than the Rambam and the
halachic implications are mortifying. The Meshech Hochma says that really
teshuva itself is an unprecedented breakthrough. Often when someone falls into
sin and needs to rehabilitate himself, the measures necessary to take may be
drastic. In fact, in order to facilitate one’s ability to do a real teshuva
other mitzvahs might even have to be overridden. For instance, one who becomes
addicted to engaging in illicit relationships might need to undertake an
intense regiment in order to beat his addiction. This might mean going into
isolation and resolving not to marry for an extended period of time even though
a normal person has an obligation to be part of society and live a normal life,
getting married at a decent age and having children. According to the Meshech
Hochma, by giving us teshuva as a mitzvah, Hashem gave us the go-ahead to even
override normal Torah protocol if necessary for one to truly return to Hashem.
Practically speaking one should ask his local Orthodox rabbi before taking the
Meshech Hochma’s approach, but clearly this should impress onto us the
importance of teshuva and we should seriously consider taking upon ourselves
whatever is necessary even if it is difficult so that we can do a teshuva
shleima.
The Reishis Hochma presents
an entirely new idea. He says that really the mitzvah of teshuva is for one to
strengthen his Yiras Shamayim. Only through this can a person truly do a
sincere teshuva. If a person can’t bring himself to view every aveira as if it
were a bomb, he will not have the willpower to be committed to abandoning his
ways. Rather he will constantly fall back into the same track as he was before.
Rabbeinu Yona adds that even after one does teshuva and fortifies his Yiras
Shamayim, he still has an ongoing obligation to increase his Yiras Hashem
because without doing so, there is really still a question whether his teshuva
will be strong enough to stand up to the test that temptation may present.
That’s why it is of such crucial importance that one should constantly find new
ways of strengthening himself in Yiras Shamayim. So what are ways of adding to
our Yiras Shamayim? Rav Yisrael Salanter says something not so surprising
considering he is the founder of the Mussar movement. He says that such a
person needs to learn more mussar. However, we also have two invaluable pieces
of advice from the Rosh, a Rishon. The first thing a person can do to boost his
Yiras Shamayim and increase his aversion from sin is to remember that one day
he’s going to die. Unfortunately, when one is dead, there is no longer an
opportunity to do teshuva for his sins or to do any other goods deeds.
Therefore, a person must value the time he has in this world and remember that
some people aren’t privileged to live until 120. Hashem can, has v’shalom, take
him at any time. These thoughts can bring a person to a heightened consciousness
embodying a profound sense of Yiras Shamayim. The second tip is for one to
learn texts that talk about the deeds of the early greats and to draw
inspiration from how much they feared Hashem. Through them, we can learn to be
yirei shamayim ourselves. Rav Yechezkel Levinshtein adds on this particular
point, that while reading about great Jews in history is inspiring, there is
nothing like seeing truly holy Jews with your own eyes. By going to see gedolim
and travelling to places of intense Torah learning, one can witness for himself
what Yiras Shamayim is really all about.
There is a story told of a
young man who began to fall prey to the excitement and the whirlwind which was
the enlightenment movement. One day, he decided that university was the path
for him and he told his rabbi about his plans. Obviously, the Rav was greatly
distressed by the news the young man had brought to his attention and tried to
talk him out of it. However, the young man was set in his ways and the Rav saw
that the matter wasn’t up for debate. Not willing to give up on any Jew, the
Rav made one last attempt, telling the young man to at least stop by the Mir
Yeshiva just to see what it is before embarking to university. Believing that
it would at least be an interesting cultural experience, the young man decided
to take up the Rav on his suggestion. However, the Mir wasn’t just like any
other place at this time of year. It was Elul zman. The spirit in the air was
electrifying. Special mussar shmuessim were given every day. All the buchrim
were learning and davening with tremendous intensity and incredible diligence,
not wanting to waste even a second of the precious gift we call Elul. Rosh
HaShana was awe-inspiring and the entire yeshiva together enthusiastically
coronated Hashem, recognizing His Kingship. The 10 days of teshuva were filled
with discussions of how to completely cleanse one’s self of every single
negative character trait possible. And with Yom Kippur, the entire yeshiva
cried for G-d’s mercy, until celebrating with joy after the conclusion of their
day of atonement. After experiencing all of this, the same young man who was so
intent on enrolling into university just a month earlier couldn’t help but be
effected and on motzei Yom Kippur he decided to remain in the yeshiva,
ultimately learning for a few more years, getting married, and raising frum
children. Just by seeing the Mir in Elul zman was enough for this young man to
change his entire life!
May we all be
zoche to do a complete teshuva and become real yirei Shamayim!!!