5786: a new year, new beginnings, a fresh start, the blessing of life renewed this year, ברוך שהחיינו וקימנו והגיענו לזמן הזה.

The first ten days of Tishrei are known as the Aseres Yimei Teshuva, the Ten Days of Repentance, which begin on Alef Tishrei/Rosh Hashana and climax on 10 Tishrei/Yom Kippur.

Regarding these holy, auspicious and opportune days, the Rambam writes: 

אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהַתְּשׁוּבָה וְהַצְּעָקָה יָפָה לְעוֹלָם - בַּעֲשָׂרָה הַיָּמִים שֶׁבֵּין רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה וְיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים הִיא יָפָה בְּיוֹתֵר, וּמִתְקַבֶּלֶת הִיא מִיָּד, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: "דִּרְשׁוּ ה’ בְּהִמָּצְאוֹ"

Even though repentance and calling out to G-d are desirable at all times, during the ten days between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, they are even more desirable and will be accepted immediately as the verse states: “Seek G-d when He is to be found” (Yeshayahu 55:6).

Hence, the great avodah of teshuva - repentance, return, and seeking solace in the house of Hashem (cf. Tehillim 27:4) - are incumbent upon us all during this time. While teshuva is always pleasing to Hashem, necessary for our souls, and should be the daily task of every Jew, during these days, the spiritual possibility for repentance is heightened, as Hashem imminently awaits our return to Him at every moment. 

As the navi (prophet) exhorts us in the haftorah read on Shabbos Shuva: ‘שׁוּבָה יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל עַ֖ד ה אֱלֹקיךָ כִּ֥י כָשַׁ֖לְתָּ בַּֽעֲו‍ֹנֶֽךָ - Return, Israel, unto Hashem your G-d, for you have stumbled in your iniquity (Hoshea 14:2).

And yet, though we are all aware that the demands - and zechus - of teshuva are great indeed, at times the prospect of life-altering choices seems daunting, and may even seem - chalilah! - impossible.

In last week’s parsha, Nitzavim - always read before Rosh Hashana - the Torah tells us otherwise: כִּֽי־קָר֥וֹב אֵלֶ֛יךָ הַדָּבָ֖ר מְאֹ֑ד בְּפִ֥יךָ וּבִלְבָֽבְךָ֖ לַֽעֲשׂתֽוֹ - for this matter is very close to you, in your mouth and in your hearts to do (Devarim 30:14). 

According to the Ramban, and the Baal HaTurim, “this matter” that is very close to you, to which the pasuk refers, is the mitzvah of teshuva. 

מִי־יַֽ֖עֲלֶה בְּהַ֣ר ה’ וּמִי־יָ֜ק֗וּם בִּמְק֥וֹם קָדְשֽׁוֹ - Who will ascend upon the mount of Hashem, and who will stand in His Holy place? (Tehillim 24:3). While climbing the mount of G-d is daunting indeed, it can, it must, it shall be done, as the Psalmist continues and says: נְקִ֥י כַפַּ֗יִם וּבַ֪ר לֵ֫בָ֥ב, He who has clean hands and a pure heart… ‘יִשָּׂ֣א בְ֖רָכָה מֵאֵ֣ת ה, He will receive a blessing from Hashem (ibid., v.4-5).

The pasuk in this week’s parsha, Vayelech, tells us: וְהָיָ֠ה כִּֽי־תִמְצֶ֨אןָ אֹת֜וֹ רָע֣וֹת רַבּוֹת֘ וְצָרוֹת֒ וְ֠עָֽנְתָ֠ה הַשִּׁירָ֨ה הַזֹּ֤את לְפָנָיו֙ לְעֵ֔ד כִּ֛י לֹ֥א תִשָּׁכַ֖ח מִפִּ֣י זַרְע֑וֹ כִּ֧י יָדַ֣עְתִּי אֶת־יִצְר֗וֹ - And it will be that when many evils and distresses come upon it [the nation], then this song shall speak up before it as a witness for it shall not be forgotten from the mouth of its offspring, for I know its inclination… (Devarim 31:21).

Where in this verse is there a reference to teshuva? 

Rabbi Dr. Abraham J. Twerski z’l writes, “Malbim interprets this verse as a Divine promise to be forgiving when the Children of Israel will do teshuvah… Forgiveness requires teshuvah: regret for having sinned and a sincere resolution not to repeat the sinful act. But why is teshuvah effective? … Teshuvah is effective because G-d understands how vulnerable we are to the cunning and temptations of the yetzer hara. Therefore, if we realize that we have been duped by the yetzer hara, G-d takes this into consideration.

“The chassidic master, the Shpoler Zeide, used to plead for his people, “Master of the universe! You have placed temptations before people’s eyes, but the punishments of Gehinnom are described in the books. If You have placed Gehinnom right before people’s eyes and the temptations in the books, I assure You, no one would sin!”

“There is no justification for sin, but if a person who has sinned does teshuvah, G-d assumes part of the responsibility and forgives the sin. This, Malbim says, is the promise in the above verse. ‘It shall be that when many evils and distresses come upon it, then this song shall speak before it as a witness … for I know its inclination.’ When the troubles that befall Israel will cause us to do teshuvah, G-d promises to forgive, because He knows the power of the evil inclination. This song, the Torah, ‘shall not be forgotten from the mouths of its offspring,’ and it will be a witness to plead on our behalf.

“A person may be discouraged from doing teshuvah, thinking, ‘What’s the use? I cannot expect G-d to forgive me for having disobeyed Him for so long.’ G-d promises that if a person does teshuvah, He will enter a plea in his behalf, assuming part of the responsibility for the person’s behavior. It is never too late for teshuvah” (Twerski on Chumash, The Shaar Press, p.433-434).

And so, during these days that are ripe for repentance, let us renew our belief in Hashem’s great kindnesses, let us grab the opportunity to return to Him, let us strengthen our appreciation for the courage of the Jewish neshama to change. 

, he who comes to be purified, he will be helped (Yoma 38b).בא ליטהר מסעיין אותו

In the merit of our repentance, let Hashem’s great mercy be moved to inscribe us all - His nation and His beloved land - in the sefer chaim tovim, chaim shel bracha, and chaim shel shalom. 

בברכת גמר וחתימה טובה ושבת שלום