Celestial Repentance \ Tomer Devorah
Tomer Devorah is a precious book written by an eminent Kabbalist and an outstanding Talmid Chacham, Rabbi Moshe Cordevaro, of blessed memory. Amongst the many wonderful ideas presented in this classic book, Rabbi Cordevaro introduces us to the idea of “Celestial Repentance.”
Whereas classic repentance is focused on correcting the misdeed, “Celestial Repentance” is centered more on accessing your true inner goodness. Through the process of defining ourselves as “good,” we automatically convert all of our misdeeds to Mitzvot! Similar to the engine of a train, that pulls the cars in whatever direction it is headed.
Rabbi Cordevaro mentions the “Secret of the Jubilee” as one of the primary aspects of “Celestial Repentance.” Let’s make an attempt to “unpack” this esoteric concept and explain it in simple terms.
The Jubilee refers to the fiftieth year. In the event that a family sold their ancestral land heritage, the Torah rules that in the “Jubilee Year,” the land perforce reverts to the original owner.
Kabbalistically, the fifty years correspond to the “Fifty Gates of Understanding.” Just as the ancestral land heritage reverts to the owner in Jubilee Year, so too, when a person engages in “Celestial Repentance,” the Fifty Gates of Understanding emanate upon him, and grant him the freedom to discover the roots of his Holy Soul.
On a deeper level, the influence of the misdeed is often woven into our nature. Even if we yearn to ascend to our core essence, it can be quite challenging to overcome human nature. “Celestial Repentance" offers us a solution. Each time we reflect on “Celestial Repentance,” new dimensions of freedom will be be revealed. The holiness of the “Jubilee” frees us from our past mistakes, and restores us to our innate goodness!
If we reflect on Teshuvah every day, we will ultimately purify our being. All of our past days will be filled with light, and all of our misdeeds will transform to acts of goodness, sanctity, and joy!
(Based on Tomer Devorah, Rabbi Moshe Cordevaro, Chapter Four)
