R’ Shabsai Alpert z”l (rabbi in Plonk, Poland; later in New York) writes: Teshuvah is the key that opens all of the gates in the world. Without it, one could not exist. Imagine a person who boarded up his dining room, then his bedroom, then his study, then the foyer of his house, and then the front door, until he was left standing outside, with no way to enter his house. This is what happens when one sins; he locks the gate that would have allowed him access to G-d, and places an iron curtain between himself and his Creator. Likewise, when one sins against another person, he locks the door that would have let him have a relationship with that person. When one wastes time that could have been spent studying Torah, he not only loses that time, he actually places a blockade between himself and the Torah.
Suddenly, he realizes that he has walled himself off from all life-giving forces in the world: G-d, friends, and Torah. The midrash records that wisdom was asked, “What will become of the soul that sins?” Wisdom answered, “He shall die.” Wisdom – reason – cannot envision any other result, for the sinner has left himself no other way. [However, the midrash concludes, G-d says that “wisdom” is wrong. The sinner need not die, for he can repent, notwithstanding the fact that the existence of teshuvah defies reason.] Thus we can understand the verse (Tehilim 118:21), “I will thank You Hashem, for You have answered me; You have become my salvation.”
We recite in the High Holiday prayers, “Teshuvah, prayer and charity remove the severity of the decree.” Shouldn’t teshuvah have been listed last? After all, it is the hardest of the three. Everyone prays, most people give charity, but how many actually succeed in doing real teshuvah? Nevertheless, R’ Alpert explains, teshuvah is listed first because, until one performs teshuvah, the gates of prayer and charity remain locked.
Why then does teshuvah work? Because one who does teshuvah recreates himself! Suddenly, he is back on the other side of the locked gate where he started.
In addition, G-d permits teshuvah because, whereas man’s sins decrease the honour of Heaven, teshuvah restores it.
