Sponsored in loving memory of Joseph and Shirley Goldwasser by Avraham and Joyce Litzman, their children and grandchildren.
Day Thirteen
Teshuvah’s/Repentance’s Healing Power
Just as a specific remedy is proven to heal a particular disease, so too, the effectiveness of Teshuvah’s/Repentance’s healing power is well-established and undisputed. Just as HaShem effortlessly transforms curses to blessings; so too, Teshuvah/Repentance is a mighty force that can transform the basest transgression into the most sublime of Mitzvahs! Indeed, Teshuvah holds the power to transform darkness to light, convert every sin into merit, and transmute all defilement into purity.
One Person's Teshuvah/Repentance Affects the Entirety of Klal Yisrael
The Ramak writes in the first chapter of Tomer Devorah:
"The People of Israel are like one united family, each person related to one another because all the souls are interconnected. What’s more, there is a portion of each soul contained in every other one. Therefore, there is no comparison [to the impact made in Heaven] between a Mitzvah performed by a great number of people versus a Mitzvah performed by a small number of people. All of this difference [i.e., the impact made in Heaven by a great number of people performing a Mitzvah] is due to our “connectedness.”
In this light, when a person performs a good deed, he sanctifies every other Jew through the “portions” of their souls contained within him."
We now understand that when a person performs Teshuvah Elyonah/Supernal Repentance, he causes the light of Binah/Divine Enlightenment to rectify not only himself, but the portions of the souls of all Klal Yisrael within him. More, if he includes all the souls of Klal Yisrael in his intention to raise himself to his holy root, he awakens a true wonder – causing all the souls of Klal Yisrael to ascend to their holy roots. Thus, Binah casts its illumination over the entire Nation of Israel.
Similarly, the Sefer Chareidim (66:13) notes that the phrase (Shemos 1:5) Seventy Soul (which refers to the seventy individuals who descended with Yaakov Avinu to Egypt), is curiously written in the singular tense “Soul” and not the plural tense “Souls.” He explains that this signifies the unity of Klal Yisrael. Accordingly, he advises us to engage in Teshuvah with the intention to inspire all of Klal Yisrael to join in our vital spiritual venture. Consequently, all the souls of Klal Yisrael will be influenced to perform Teshuvah, with HaShem’s help.
Ever-expanding Worlds of Compassion
While human nature is limited in its scope to forgive, the Creator’s infinite compassion continually expands to grant forgiveness for every misdeed and character flaw. HaShem’s example is meant to inspire us to constantly open our hearts to new dimensions of compassion. Moreover, it stirs us to grant forgiveness to even the most ignoble people, (including ourselves), by broadening our capacity to emulate His infinite attribute of Mercy.
The “Secret of the Divine Image”
The Merciful One created man in the “Secret of the Divine Image,” as the Ramak writes in Chapter One. This alludes to the idea that HaShem instilled spiritual aspects within Man that correspond to the Ten Sefirot/Divine Spiritual Levels. For example, Avraham Avinu was impassioned with extraordinary loving-kindness because he ignited the inherent spark of Divine Kindness that pulsated in his heart.
Man’s primary purpose in this world is to emulate the Creator, through the corresponding aspects of the Sefirot/Divine Spiritual Levels that lie within himself. Man’s emulation of the Sefirot awakens the illumination of each individual Sefira upon himself, his community, and the entire world. Therefore, it is vitally important to clarify the qualities of Binah so as to be enlightened regarding its corresponding emulation. Ultimately, this emulation awakens the Supernal light of Binah to shine upon a person “all the days of his life.”
The Sefirot/Divine Spiritual Levels reflect the splendor of the Ohr Ein Sof, Baruch Hu — the Holy One’s Infinite Divine Light — which is the unbounded goodness that HaShem constantly bestows upon His creations. In His supreme Kindness, HaShem “filtered” the Ohr Ein Sof through the Sefirot, enabling us, His frail and finite creations, to attain the slightest inkling of His Essence: His Light, Compassion, Holiness, and Purity.
