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Discover a joyful and uplifting path to Repentance!
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The Joy of Repentance\Guilt-Free
Based on Tomer Devorah by the Holy Ramak
Authored and Published by the Salant Foundation
Distributed by Feldheim
The Principles of Teshuvah Elyonah
Before we enter the sweet waters of the Tomer Devorah’s elucidation of Teshuvah Elyonah (Exalted Repentance), it’s worthwhile to expound upon the following six primary principles. Doing so will greatly facilitate understanding the Ramak’s terminology and concepts.
1. Joy Opens the Gates of Teshuvah. 2. Trust in The Holy One, Blessed Be He Is the Key to Successful Teshuvah. 3. The Holy One, Blessed Be He Preserves the Sanctity of Our Souls. 4. Binah (Divine Enlightenment) Is the Source of Trust in Heaven. 5. “Intention” Guarantees a Successful Outcome. 6. New Dimensions of the Divine Image.
Joy Opens the Gates of Teshuvah - Joy 1.
Greater Delight than The World to Come
Pirkei Avos (4:17) states: One hour of Teshuvah (Repentance) and good deeds in this world is more pleasurable than the entire life of The World to Come. The Sefer Charedim (66:54) comments: “Therefore, rejoice intensely and be moved with heartfelt gratitude when engaging in Teshuvah.”
The pleasure of the World to Come is the ultimate joy, infinitely superseding all earthly pleasures. If so, how can one hour of Teshuvah performed in this world be greater than the joy of the World to Come? The pleasure of the Holy One drawing close to us in this World — and lovingly washing away our impurity and flaws — far exceeds the pleasure of the World to Come! The delight and joy of performing Teshuvah exponentially expands when we reflect upon the unbridled compassion Heaven displays by forgiving us.
The pleasure of the Creator lovingly cleansing away our impurity may be likened to a mother lovingly changing her baby’s diaper. She adjusts the water temperature so that it is comfortable for her baby and cleans him with a gentle soap. And then she kisses him when she completes the task! Indeed, the Merciful One’s unbounded goodness — revealed through His accepting our Teshuvah — is a greater pleasure than the collective delight of “the entire life of The World to Come” (Rabbi Yitzchak Blazer9).
The Talmud states (Yoma 38b), “The person who comes to purify himself awakens Divine assistance.” Thus, one who engages in Repentance awakens Divine compassion. He merits the Holy One’s assistance to purify himself and perform Repentance! Can there be any joy sweeter than that?
Indeed, the Holy Ba’al Shem Tov, the founder of the Chasidic movement, writes when a person performs Teshuvah, even the Angles cannot recognize him! As he ascends and elevates to lofty heights, the Angels ask, ״?מי״ Meaning, “Who is that?” The Gematria (numerical value) of ״מי״ is 50, which alludes to the “50 Gates of Binah.” Binah is synonymous with Teshuvah. The person who has performed Teshuvah has dramatically transformed into another being! Thus, the Angels ask, “Who is that?” (Based on Sefer Ba’al Shem Tov)
Rabbi Baruch Ber Leibowitz was the famed Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Kamenitz in Europe. When his beloved father was hospitalized, Rabbi Leibowitz attended to him in the hospital. One evening he had to leave his father's side because he needed to perform an important task. He appointed a responsible caretaker to come to the hospital and watch over his father. However, that very evening, his father passed away. Rabbi Leibowitz was beside himself with grief. He performed Teshuvah to the best of his ability but was still distraught. So he went to consult the Chofetz Chaim. The Chofetz Chaim explained to him that after his heartfelt Teshuvah, he was a different "Baruch Ber Leibowitz!" Thus asserting Teshuvah has thepower to change a person into a different entity! The kind words of the Chofetz Chaim comforted and consoled Rabbi Baruch Ber Leibowitz.
The Practical Methodology of Performing Repentance.
[For step by step guide send email to salantorg@gmail.com or go to link salantfoundation.org]
1. Joyfully Trust in God’s infinite compassion and intend to transform yourself to pure goodness by ascending to your holy root implanted in Binah (Divine Enlightenment), “for all bitterness is sweet in its Exalted root.” Keep in mind that your Trust in the Eternal’s infinite compassion and your intentions to elevate to your sweet root is the impetus that initiates the wonders of Teshuvah Elyonah.
2. Visualize your soul ascending away from the body, assisted by the freeing power of the Secret of the Jubilee. See your soul soaring above the earth, past the sun and the stars, hurling like a laser-beam until it penetrates the Heavens and reaches its source, rooted in the holy dimension of Binah, incandescent with Exalted Light. Experience the Holy Light of Binah and see yourself transform to pure goodness.
3. Joyfully envision uniting with the intrinsic goodness and purity manifest in your soul’s holy root. Integrate particular virtues in your heart, such as: love and reverence for God; holiness and wisdom; and positive character traits, such as trust, joy, compassion, generosity of spirit, humility, friendliness, modesty, and unconditional love for your fellows.
4. Imagine yourself transforming into an entity of pure goodness, holiness and truth, emulating the attributes of our Patriarchs, Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaacov. Your past inappropriate actions ascend with you and transmute into good deeds. The Accusing Forces “make themselves good and implant themselves within holiness.” Purify your Negative Impulse and gather it into goodness and implant yourself in Holiness. Envision the release of the Holy Shechinah (Divine Presence) from the dungeon of our exile and rejoice in the splendorous revelation of the Divine Light — the Fifty Gates of Binah.
5. After fulfilling the above steps to the best of your ability, visualize that your effort to attain Teshuvah Elyonah awakens Binah’s incandescent Light to illuminate “all of your days.” Then all your days will be renewed and filled with Binah’s infinite compassion, holiness, and joy. Live a life of Sanctity, Torah study, Mitzvah observance, Loving Kindness, and closeness to God, as King David proclaimed, “For me closeness to the Almighty is my good.”
May it be the Will of the Holy One that all of the People of Israel will merit to fulfill the Mitzvah of Teshuvah Elyonah swiftly in our days, and the Radiance of Binah will fill the entire world. Amen!
~ לדוד אליך השם נפשי אשא ~
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