From Our Sages
Teshuvah and Good Deeds
There are two approaches to healing a physical illness:
- To heal the sick and weakened organ.
- To strengthen the healthy organs so that they can overcome the weakness of the diseased organ and restore it.
Similarly, there are two paths to spiritual healing: teshuvah and good deeds.
Teshuvah Brings Redemption
Rabbi Yonatan said: "Great is teshuvah, for it brings redemption, as it is written:
'And a redeemer shall come to Zion, and to those who repent of transgression in Jacob, says the L-rd." (Isaiah 59:20)
(Yoma 86a)
Open a Hole Like the Eye of a Needle
"Open for Me, My sister..." (Song of Songs 5:2)
Rabbi Yasa said: The Holy One, blessed be He, says to Israel: "My children, open for Me an opening of teshuvah the size of the eye of a needle, and I will open for you an entrance wide enough for wagons and carriages to pass through."
(Shir Hashirim Rabbah)
Past, Present, and Future
Teshuvah consists of correcting and put-ting one's present in order, regretting the past, and making good resolutions for the future.
The key, however, is the present. When the present is properly ordered, one can fill what was lacking or wrong in the past and build fences and safeguards for the future.
(the Rebbe)
