What should one do if he really wants to correct his ways and change, but knows himself — he truthfully cannot promise, or even hope not to repeat past sins. He knows himself – those resolutions hold up perhaps until Neilah, not more. What can he do? Does he have any hope?
Yes, says Rav Moshe Sternbuch in Teshuvos V’Hanhagos (5:41), quoting the Meiri in Chibur HaTeshuva. The seir hamishtaleiach, the scapegoat sent to the desert brings kaporah [atonement] even without teshuva. The Meiri writes that it is impossible to say that it cleanses of sin even without regret, because then it falls into the category of a korban [sacrifice] of the wicked which is an abomination. What does this goat atone for? The Meiri explains that it serves as atonement for one who regrets his misdeeds but knows that it won’t last. This person is not a rasha, but his teshuva is incomplete. For a private person’s korban, one needs to do full teshuva and correct his sins, each one individually, resolving to never repeat them. But for a public korban, as we see from the scapegoat, regret alone will suffice.
Therefore, Rav Sternbuch deduces that one who knows he will probably repeat his sins again next year despite his heartfelt regret, should make sure to daven with a tzibbur, effectively earning his teshuva’s acceptance albeit on its lower level, without the resolution for the future.
