Relationship Between Free Will and Teshuva
Achieving the highest form of teshuva, i.e. real change in oneself, happens via exercising the full extent of one’s bechira chofshis, and requires exertion.
Din, Zichron Teruah, and Simcha
– Rav Hutner (Y”K, 29:1-5)” R”H is elevated from being a yom hadin to being a yom tov via zichron teruah. – Explanation as to why every day of simcha / yom tov is also a day of din (as
Zichron Teruah
– explanation of “zichron Teruah” according to Ramban and Rashi – shofar as the vehicle causing our zicharon to come before Hashem and trigger His mercy – Explanation of how we know the yom Teruah that comes before YOm Kippur
Busha. Realtive Severity of Different Types of Aveiros.
– The degree of busha in teshuva, and in both asking and receiving mechila, should be proportionate to the magnitude of the aveira. – D’oraysa more chamur than d’rabbanan because d’oraysa HKB”H communicated directly to us, more of a chutzpa
Hashem’s Help With Teshuva
Hashem’s Help With Teshuva Rambam (Hilchos Teshuva 6:5): a person on the right path wants to continue on it, and that’s “habo litaheir mesayin oso” – not that Hashem intervenes, but that there’s positive momentum felt by the person and
u’mal Hashem Elokecha es levavcha
Devarim 30:6 – “u’mal Hashem Elokecha es levavcha…l’ma’an chayecha” Ramban: What’s milas halev? Pshat 1) “Habo litaheir, mesayin oso.” Pshat 2) in days of Moshiach, human nature will be different – people will be “sichli”, i.e. we will not be
Religious Faith & Pride in Today’s Increasingly Irreligious World
Nach-pe-sa…v’nachkora
3 explanations of “Nach-pe-sa…v’nachkora…v’nashuva”1) Shaarei Teshuva, Shaar 3: have to take inventory of what sins I have, then look at the magnitude of each sin. The magnitude of the sin has to be reflected in the teshuva and in the
Types of Teshuva
Types of Teshuva 31:28 Tzara is mechayeiv in cheshbon hanefesh. Kol Dodi Dofeik, f.n. #3: difference between general mitzvas teshuva & eis tzara – chiyuv to do teshuva in general comes from already having awareness of cheit, while an eis
Devarim 30:11 – “ki haMitzvah hazos”
Devarim 30:11 – “ki haMitzvah hazos” – refers to teshuva. “v’shavta” means both chiyuv & havtacha. “V’hasheivosa el levavecha” also refers to teshuva. V’hasheivosa means to be misbonein on the trouble we experienced, which will then awaken us to “v’shavta”.