Day Thirty-Six
T
he Foundation of Teshuvah
Rabeinu Yonah presents a similarly positive approach to Teshuvah (Yesodei HaTeshuvah):
"HaShem sent us a message through His servants, the Holy Prophets, and particularly through the Prophet Yechezkel (18:30-33): “Says HaShem Elokim, ‘Repent and return from all of your sins, and they shall not be an obstacle of transgression to you! Cast away from yourselves all your transgressions that you’ve transgressed in them; and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit – and why should you die, House of Israel?!”
Regarding one who has rebelled and sinned, and now comes to take shelter under the wings of the Shechinah and to enter the paths of Teshuvah: “I will enlighten you and illuminate for you the path on which you should follow” (Tehillim 32:8): On that day, he should discard all the sins that he committed. He should make himself as if he were born on that very day, and has in his hand neither merit nor liability. This day is the beginning of his deeds. From today, he shall consider all his ways, so that none of his paths should stray from the “Good Path.” This is the way that will bring him to
return in perfect repentance, for he makes himself as one who has cast off himself the burden of the sins and the essence of the transgressions he has committed.
Let his thoughts not confuse him and prevent him from repenting out of embarrassment, thinking, “How can I make myself so brazen as to repent – I, who have sinned, transgressed, and trespassed; …how, then, can I ever again come before Him, disgraced like a thief caught in the act! Woe, for I’m embarrassed to stand before Him; more, how can I even tread in His courtyard, and how can I observe His statutes?!”
One should not entertain such thoughts! For the Negative Impulse sits like a fly by the entranceways to the heart, constantly renewing [its attack] upon a person, probing and planning how to cause him to stumble and turn his heart to this evil counsel.
Rather, he should think, “For thusly is the attribute of the blessed Creator: His “arm” is outstretched to receive penitents.” Therefore, it is good for one to cast off his transgressions, and to make for himself a new heart!
