By Rabbi Dovid Sapirman, Dean, Ani Maamin Foundation
As we approach the last Shabbos of a very difficult year, just a few days before Rosh Hashanah, our thoughts turn to the call of the hour: teshuvah.
The very first words of the sefer Shaarei Teshuva are “This is one of the great kindnesses that Hashem has done with His creations: to allow them to do teshuvah.” What does this mean?
After the destruction of the first Beis Hamikdash, the leaders of klal Yisrael came and sat before the navi Yechezkel. They were overwhelmed by their sins. Rashi explains that they wanted to do teshuvah, but they didn’t believe it would help. The navi makes a promise in the name of Hashem: Hashem does not want to see a rasha punished, but rather forgiven through teshuvah.
Although these people had sinned greatly, their emunah was strong. They experienced open miracles in the Beis Hamikdash, and the Shechinah was present among them until close to the time of the Churban. Why, then, did they find it so hard to believe that teshuvah would help? In contrast, our emunah is weaker, but we seem confident when Yom Kippur comes that all our sins will be forgiven.
Rav Itzele Peterberger explains that our belief in the efficacy of teshuvah depends on our recognition of an aveirah’s severity. If we view a sin as something relatively minor, it is easy to believe that we can be forgiven. However, if we were aware of the impact of an aveirah on our souls, it would be difficult to imagine that confessing and feeling sorry could undo that.
This is the difference between our generation and our ancestors. Although they had sinned greatly, they were much more aware of how terrible an aveirah is, and found it hard to believe that teshuvah could help. We, on the other hand, do not recognize the real meaning of a sin. Doing teshuvah seems very logical to us.
Rav Yisrael Salanter writes that we should view a sin like a star. When we look up at the sky, the stars seem like little dots. With a telescope, they look much bigger. In truth, they are massive. So too with our sins. We treat them as if they are small, but in reality they are very great—and very harmful.
May we all be zoche to proper teshuvah, as promised by the navi Yechezkel.
