- Two Emotions Can Coexist
- A Jew should feel both:
- Humility and brokenheartedness over past sins (Teshuvah Tataah).
- Joy in Hashem while serving Him.
- These are not contradictory; they can exist together, as the Zohar says:
- “Weeping is on one side of the heart, and joy on the other.”
- Trust Completely in Hashem’s Mercy
- Alongside repentance, a person must have absolute faith that:
- Hashem is compassionate.
- Hashem desires kindness.
- Hashem forgives those who sincerely ask for forgiveness.
- Pray Without Doubt
- When we say:
- “Erase my transgressions”
- “Purify me”
- “Forgive us”
- We should pray with complete confidence that Hashem hears and forgives.
- There should be no lingering doubt about His willingness to pardon.
- Proof from the Amidah
- In every Shemoneh Esrei we request forgiveness and immediately conclude:
- “Blessed are You, Hashem, who abundantly forgives.”
- Since a blessing cannot be recited in doubt, this demonstrates our certainty that Hashem forgives sincere repentance.
- Immediate Redemption Follows Forgiveness
- Right after the blessing of forgiveness comes:
- “Blessed are You, Hashem, Redeemer of Israel.”
- This teaches that once the obstacle of sin is removed, redemption can follow.
- Learning from Human Forgiveness
- Jewish law requires a person to forgive someone who sincerely asks for forgiveness.
- One should not be cruel or stubborn in withholding forgiveness.
- If this is expected of people, it is certainly true of Hashem, whose compassion is infinitely greater.
- The Example of the Gibeonites
- When the Gibeonites refused to forgive, King David viewed this as a serious character flaw.
- The Jewish people are characterized by mercy and compassion.
- This highlights how central forgiveness is in Torah values.
Key Takeaway
True teshuvah requires both humility and joy: humility for the past, and joy from the certainty that Hashem lovingly accepts sincere repentance and forgives immediately.