How To Do Teshuva
People are asking me how to do Teshuva. First of all, there is a tremendous Zechus to go around asking for Eitzos (advice) on how to do Teshuva, and if you aren’t Mya'esh, then for sure Hashem will someday reward you: כִ פְ לַ יִ ם double. And: לְפוּם צַעֲרָּא אַגְרָּא אבות ה כב the reward increases according to your effort. The pain you have when you go around not knowing how to do it right, is surely a tremendous Tikun (spiritual rectification) for your Neshama. This is considered big-time Yissurim, and the Kapara is Gevaldig; even if you’re getting nowhere.
My official Eitza is to write a list of your Chesronos in one column, and in a second column, write a list of solutions; pick any kind: יִ הְ יֶּה מַ ה שֶּ יִ הְ יֶּה whatever it may be! This has a major psychological effect on a person. Even if the solutions are beyond his abilities, it affects the person in a positive way.
Indeed, people tried my Eitza and have had tremendous To’eles (help) and loads of Simcha. This Eitza was based on Sefer Madregas HaAdam who says that a person just has to do: עַד מָּקוֹם שֶּיָּדוֹ מַגַעַת the best he can, and then he’ll get Siyata Dishmaya. Just the other day, a Yungerman comes over to me smiling ear to ear, telling me that he followed my Eitza and it worked wonders. As usual, I recommend plenty of Tefila before embarking on any form of Teshuva.
Hashem, please help that Mandel’s (or someone else’s) method of Teshuva should work wonders!” One of the great Slabodka Talmidim, ראא"ק ז"ל once said that when Hashem told Moshe: וְרָאִיתָ אֶת אֲחֹרָי וּפָנַי לֹא יֵרָאוּ תשא לג כג “You shall view My back, but not My front”, it means that nobody can ever see: פָנַי the front, because if you would see: פָנַי the front, this פָנַי “front” is really an: אֲח רָּי “back” of a higher Madrega.
Just like the greatness of Hashem is without end, so is a human always a M’vakesh (seeker), and he is never complete. The biggest: מוּשְ לָּ ם (perfect person) always has higher Madregos that he’ll never reach. So don’t feel disheartened when you notice so much lacking in your Avoda. This is the way it is, and your main greatness is in your constant “striving” and your “efforts” in Avodas Hashem.
R' Avrohom Leib Shur Zatzal was a Slabodka Talmid who was a Rav in Chicago, and R' Ahron Kotler Zatzal used to invite him to Lakewood to speak. He had the Slabodka Romemus style. He told me that in the gentile world, you get a degree when you complete a subject. By us, you are never finished. The biggest Talmid Chochom is called a Talmid.
The exact greatness of a human is his starting from new, even in his old age. That’s why the holiest of holy Kodesh HaKodoshim had Davka little babies, K’ruvim. Keeping young and always starting new in Avodas Hashem is Le’chatchila! You are never “finished”, and you weren’t meant to ever be finished as long as you’re alive. So don’t get depressed over all your ongoing Chesronos. This is how it is with everyone (even big Tzaddikim) for the rest of their lives.
