One of the famous Gedolei HaPoskim of Lakewood once spoke to a person who had done the most unspeakable Chet. When the person said that he had Cha'rata, the Rav told him: “It’s over, totally!” In Novardok I saw a similar M'halech, where overnight a person is totally 100% kosher, since he simply and quickly did Teshuva.
People view Teshuva as a “bear” (R’ Nosson Wachtfogel Zatzal warns about this) and this is a major barrier blocking a person’s Shteiging. His Yetzer Hara loves to constantly remind him of his bitter past, and all his Maalos are quickly forgotten or almost non-existent in his mind, since they all “go over his head”.
For good reason we say: דִוָדְל 'ה יִרוֹא in Y'mei Elul, since Dovid is our amazing inspiration for Teshuva. Look how he says: הַו יִנוּבָזֲﬠ יִמִּאְו יִבָא יִכּ' יִנֵפְסַאַי תהלים כז י that even his parents, who are the main support of every human, forsook him. He’s got everything going wrong in his life, being an Admoni like Eisav HaRasha, and of Mo’avi blood, with an unending list of powerful enemies (who held him to be a Rasha!) throughout his turbulent life!
Dovid is so perfect for everyone. And in our own lives, we need to respect our own pecklach and issues, our weaknesses and our stormy past, just like our Melech, Dovid is the most respected type of human (like the Halacha states: ַהמוֹ ֵר ְבּ ד ַמ ְלכוּ ַח ת ָי ִמ בי ָתיה one who rebels against the king is immediately sentenced to death). Look how Hashem wants so much to be M'chazek us, by giving us a Dovid for a Melech; now every schnook and every bum and every nebach feels comfortable and has hope!
And Davka a person with such an embarrassing history is our king?! A Yid has to learn to respect his pitfalls and mistakes, his failures and disadvantages; only these can make him truly great, when he isn’t Nis'pael from them, and he moves on like Dovid HaMelech, who doesn’t get fazed by his outrageous sins!
The Greatness of "YOUR" Teshuvah
Chazal say: וֹלוּכּ םָלוֹעָה לָכְל ןיִלֲחוֹמ הָבוּשְׁתּ הָשָׂﬠֶשׁ דיִחָי ב ופ אמוי Even if just ONE person does Teshuva, the entire world is forgiven. They say that in Elul, R' Gershon Liebman Zatzal never stopped saying this wondrous Chazal. You have to keep Chazzering it until it sinks in, and you realize the greatness of each individual. This is exactly the greatness of man, that he is held accountable for his actions. It’s all up to you; you can make yourself great if you keep reminding yourself of your greatness.
Or you can be “just a regular guy”, if you don’t take this Chazal seriously (and other Chazal’s like: דָחֶאְו דָחֶא לָכּ םָלוֹעָה אָרְבִנ יִליִבְשִׁבּ רַמוֹל בָיַּח Every person is obligated to say: The entire universe was created just for me). This is unfortunately prevalent everywhere, and only: ְי ִח ִדי םי select few are smart enough to enjoy the Simcha of kosher Ga'ava and to think big. It all starts off with thinking big; even though you may be miles and miles away from your lofty goals and aspirations. Make believe that you’re really one of the great people of Klal Yisroel, even though presently you may be addicted to the worst sins, Chas V'shalom.
If you are an: ןָשְׁקַﬠ stubborn, and you keep aiming high, & view your many sins as mere temporary insanity, you have no idea how this can truly raise your entire Madrega!
Admitting Your Weaknesses Is a Strength and A Sign of Greatness
The Avoda of Yom Kippur can only be done by the Cohen Gadol himself. (Gemara). Why? Chazal say that the reason why Dovid is Melech and not Shaul is because Dovid was Modeh (admitted) that he was wrong. We see that the Koach (ability) to admit wrongdoing, is Malchus. The Cohen Gadol is indeed the Melech of all the Cohanim, and Yom Kippur is the day of constantly saying Vidui.
“I’m sorry”, “I’m wrong”, again and again. ) יִתאָטָח יִתְּﬠַשָׁפּ יִתיִוָﬠ(. This is the Avodas HaYom. So we have Davka the Cohen Gadol doing everything on the day of saying and admitting “I’m wrong”. Now we view being: תֶמֶאָה לַﬠ הֶדוֹמ (admitting the truth) like a privilege and a sign of greatness.
When a person “rises to the occasion” and gets up to say: “I’m guilty”, he is a Gavra! He is a Mensch! Not a sneaky person who is afraid of everyone’s opinion. When a person admits his weaknesses, he is tough, honest, and fearless. He is a Melech!
Now we appreciate our weak Dor which lacks self-esteem because of so many feelings of guilt. They realize their Chesronos, and this actually makes them strong and truthful. So, although I’m always advocating more self-esteem and less involvement in our sins and failures, yet there is a big Ma'ala of being aware of your evil. You have a certain royal honesty, and you should respect yourself for it.
You are courageous enough not to lie, and not to make believe you’re a perfect person.
