All of the Prophets prescribed teshuva, and the Jewish people will be redeemed only through teshuva. The Torah has given assurance that Israel will do teshuva--at the end of its exile--and will be redeemed immediately, as it says (Deut. 30): “It will be when all these things have happened... you will return to G-d... and G-d will return your captivity and will gather you from among all the nations where He dispersed you.” (Maimonides, Hilchot Teshuva)
The Sages have said of the virtues of teshuva: “Where those who do teshuva stand, perfect tzadikim cannot stand.” (Talmud Brachot 39)
Great is teshuva for it transforms willful transgressions into meritorious acts. (Talmud Yoma 81)
Whoever does teshuva, is regarded as if he had gone up to Jerusalem, built the Sanctuary, built the altar, and offered upon it all the offerings prescribed in the Torah. (Vayikra Raba 7)
So great is the strength of teshuva that when a person reflects at heart to do teshuva, he rises immediately to the highest Heaven, to the very presence of the Throne of Glory. (Pesikta Rabati 44)
Rabbi Eliezer said, “Repent one day before your death.” Whereupon his disciples asked Rabbi Eliezer, “Does a person know on what day he will die?” He said to them, “All the more so—let him repent today lest he die tomorrow, so that all his days might pass in teshuva.” (Talmud Shabbat 153)
GMAR CHATIMAH TOVAH
