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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
Totally Transformative
וְכָל אֹתָם הַמְּקַטְרְגִים אֵינָם מִתְבַּטְּלִים אֶלָּא מְטִיבִין עַצְמָן וּמִשְׁתָּרְשִׁים בִּקְדֻשָּׁה כְּעֵין הֲטָבַת קַיִן.
(18) And all of those Accusers are not neutralized; rather, they make themselves good and implant themselves within holiness, as [would have been] with the [unrealized] betterment of Kayin.
The Accusing Forces Transform Themselves to Goodness
This teaching seems to contradict an idea presented by the Ramak in the first chapter: “When a person performs Teshuvah (Repentance), they (the Accusing Forces) are neutralized and obliterated through the consternations of Teshuvah.” Here, however, we see that they “make themselves good and implant themselves within holiness!”
This apparent inconsistency can be reconciled by noting a fine distinction between “conventional” Teshuvah and Teshuvah Elyonah (Exalted Repentance). When a person engages in Teshuvah Elyonah, he defines himself as good and ascends to his holy root. Consequently, all of his past actions and character traits are automatically transformed to goodness, harmonizing themselves with his authentic, holy essence.
If so, Teshuvah Elyonah literally recreates a person, and he emerges as a new entity of holiness. The Accusing Forces follow his lead, for they are influenced by the power and beauty of his transformation and sanctification. As the Ramak writes: “they (the Accusing Forces) make themselves good and implant themselves within holiness.”
In contrast, “conventional” Teshuvah does not function to reconnect a person with his root. Rather, the focus is on rectifying a particular misdeed or negative trait. He does not yet have the yearning and inspiration to reach inner perfection. Therefore, the Accusing Forces are not inspired to “transform themselves to goodness.” Rather, they continue to exist as an evil entity until the trials of Teshuvah neutralize their existence.
Totally Transformative
The Ramak teaches us that the healing energy the Holy One provides through Teshuvah Elyonah is even more miraculously powerful than we dreamed! As we’ve seen, a person’s intention to engage in Teshuvah Elyonah arouses Binah’s (Divine Enlightenment) radiance to shine upon him, causing him to ascend to his holy root. As a result, not only is he transformed into an entity of holiness; his past actions are also drawn in his wake to be similarly uplifted and transformed.
However, the Ramak tells us here that the sublime wonder of Teshuvah Elyonah doesn’t end there. Its transformative power is so eminent that the Accusing Forces themselves (which are actually an aspect of the Negative Impulse and his schemes to bring us to transgress) also ascend and are implanted in holiness, converting to complete goodness. One of the more particularly noxious aspects of the Accusing Forces is the devious way they act like our best friend when enticing and seducing us – only to subsequently stab us in the back for having succumbed to their allures – the “tempter and accuser.” Is there anything more wicked and treacherous?! Yet through the power of Teshuvah Elyonah, even a person’s Accusing Forces are ultimately purified!
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