When the Brisker Rav during the Second World War was trying to escape the Nazis (yemach shemam), he and his family had no passports or papers (visas). As they came to the border, there were the wicked Nazis soldiers who were barking out orders for people to show their papers. The Brisker Rav instructed his family to keep walking and thinking and saying to themselves – “Ain Od Milvado/There is no other (than Hashem.)” They passed the border without being stopped by the Nazis.
What is teshuva? According to the Rambam, yesterday the person was a disgusting abomination. And today after hearing the shofar (blown during the month of Elul) one who has been inspired to do teshuvah has come closer to Hashem and is now called by Hashem a yedid (a dear friend of Hashem.)
