Strive For the Highest Madregos

The Rambam in Hilchos Teshuva defines “real” Teshuva as being so sincere, that even Hashem can testify you will never do it again. This scares everybody; who can do such a Teshuva?? I heard that someone mentioned this to a Slabodka Rosh Yeshiva, and he said that we don’t follow this Rambam. We hold like those Shitos who say that as long as you’re trying, it’s good enough.

In Novardok however, this Rambam was taken seriously, especially by R’ Pinchos Menachem Malach Zatzal. He would say that when he learned Mussar, this Madrega was expected. He also said that although they didn’t work on Inyanei Kedusha in Novardok, the Mussar Seder was so powerful, it caused you to be so high that you couldn’t even dream of these Yetzer Hara’s.