Spiritual Preparation and Teshuvah for Yom Kippur

כִּֽי־פְ֭שָׁעַי אֲנִ֣י אֵדָ֑ע וְחַטָּאתִ֖י נֶגְדִּ֣י תָמִֽיד׃ לֵ֣ב טָ֭הוֹר בְּרָא־לִ֣י אֱלֹהִ֑ים וְר֥וּחַ נָ֝כ֗וֹן חַדֵּ֥שׁ בְּקִרְבִּֽי׃ זִ֥בְחֵ֣י אֱלֹהִים֮ ר֤וּחַ נִשְׁבָּ֫רָ֥ה לֵב־נִשְׁבָּ֥ר וְנִדְכֶּ֑ה אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים לֹ֣א תִבְזֶֽה׃

for I recognize my transgressions, and am ever conscious of my sin. Fashion a pure heart for me, O God; create in me a steadfast spirit. True sacrifice to God is a contrite spirit; God, You will not despise a contrite and crushed heart.

מַתְנִי׳ חַטָּאת וְאָשָׁם וַדַּאי — מְכַפְּרִין. מִיתָה וְיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים — מְכַפְּרִין עִם הַתְּשׁוּבָה. תְּשׁוּבָה — מְכַפֶּרֶת עַל עֲבֵירוֹת קַלּוֹת: עַל עֲשֵׂה, וְעַל לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה. וְעַל הַחֲמוּרוֹת הוּא תּוֹלֶה, עַד שֶׁיָּבֹא יוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים וִיכַפֵּר. הָאוֹמֵר: אֶחֱטָא וְאָשׁוּב, אֶחֱטָא וְאָשׁוּב — אֵין מַסְפִּיקִין בְּיָדוֹ לַעֲשׂוֹת תְּשׁוּבָה. אֶחֱטָא וְיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים מְכַפֵּר — אֵין יוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים מְכַפֵּר. עֲבֵירוֹת שֶׁבֵּין אָדָם לַמָּקוֹם — יוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים מְכַפֵּר, עֲבֵירוֹת שֶׁבֵּין אָדָם לַחֲבֵירוֹ — אֵין יוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים מְכַפֵּר, עַד שֶׁיְּרַצֶּה אֶת חֲבֵירוֹ. דָּרַשׁ רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן עֲזַרְיָה: ״מִכֹּל חַטֹּאתֵיכֶם לִפְנֵי ה׳ תִּטְהָרוּ״. עֲבֵירוֹת שֶׁבֵּין אָדָם לַמָּקוֹם — יוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים מְכַפֵּר. עֲבֵירוֹת שֶׁבֵּין אָדָם לַחֲבֵירוֹ — אֵין יוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים מְכַפֵּר עַד שֶׁיְּרַצֶּה אֶת חֲבֵירוֹ. אָמַר רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא: אַשְׁרֵיכֶם יִשְׂרָאֵל! לִפְנֵי מִי אַתֶּם מִטַּהֲרִין, מִי מְטַהֵר אֶתְכֶם? אֲבִיכֶם שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְזָרַקְתִּי עֲלֵיכֶם מַיִם טְהוֹרִים וּטְהַרְתֶּם״, וְאוֹמֵר: ״מִקְוֵה יִשְׂרָאֵל (ה׳)״, מָה מִקְוֶה מְטַהֵר אֶת הַטְּמֵאִים — אַף הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מְטַהֵר אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל.

MISHNA: A sin-offering, which atones for unwitting performance of transgressions punishable by karet, and a definite guilt-offering, which is brought for robbery and misuse of consecrated items, atone for those sins. Death and Yom Kippur atone for sins when accompanied by repentance. Repentance itself atones for minor transgressions, for both positive mitzvot and negative mitzvot. And repentance places punishment for severe transgressions in abeyance until Yom Kippur comes and completely atones for the transgression. With regard to one who says: I will sin and then I will repent, I will sin and I will repent, Heaven does not provide him the opportunity to repent, and he will remain a sinner all his days. With regard to one who says: I will sin and Yom Kippur will atone for my sins, Yom Kippur does not atone for his sins. Furthermore, for transgressions between a person and God, Yom Kippur atones; however, for transgressions between a person and another, Yom Kippur does not atone until he appeases the other person. Similarly, Rabbi Elazar ben Azarya taught that point from the verse: “From all your sins you shall be cleansed before the Lord” (Leviticus 16:30). For transgressions between a person and God, Yom Kippur atones; however, for transgressions between a person and another, Yom Kippur does not atone until he appeases the other person. In conclusion, Rabbi Akiva said: How fortunate are you, Israel; before Whom are you purified, and Who purifies you? It is your Father in Heaven, as it is stated: “And I will sprinkle purifying water upon you, and you shall be purified” (Ezekiel 36:25). And it says: “The ritual bath of Israel is God” (Jeremiah 17:13). Just as a ritual bath purifies the impure, so too, the Holy One, Blessed be He, purifies Israel.

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: מִצְוַת וִידּוּי עֶרֶב יוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים עִם חֲשֵׁכָה. אֲבָל אָמְרוּ חֲכָמִים: יִתְוַדֶּה קוֹדֶם שֶׁיֹּאכַל וְיִשְׁתֶּה, שֶׁמָּא תִּטָּרֵף דַּעְתּוֹ בִּסְעוּדָה. וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהִתְוַדָּה קוֹדֶם שֶׁאָכַל וְשָׁתָה — מִתְוַדֶּה לְאַחַר שֶׁיֹּאכַל וְיִשְׁתֶּה, שֶׁמָּא אֵירַע דְּבַר קַלְקָלָה בַּסְּעוּדָה. וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהִתְוַדָּה עַרְבִית — יִתְוַדֶּה שַׁחֲרִית. שַׁחֲרִית — יִתְוַדֶּה בְּמוּסָף, בְּמוּסָף — יִתְוַדֶּה בְּמִנְחָה, בְּמִנְחָה — יִתְוַדֶּה בִּנְעִילָה. וְהֵיכָן אוֹמְרוֹ? יָחִיד אַחַר תְּפִלָּתוֹ, וּשְׁלִיחַ צִבּוּר אוֹמְרוֹ בָּאֶמְצַע. מַאי אָמַר? אָמַר רַב: ״אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ רָזֵי עוֹלָם״. וּשְׁמוּאֵל אָמַר: ״מִמַּעֲמַקֵּי הַלֵּב״. וְלֵוִי אָמַר: ״וּבְתוֹרָתְךָ כָּתוּב לֵאמֹר״. רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָמַר: ״רִבּוֹן הָעוֹלָמִים״. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אָמַר: ״כִּי עֲוֹנוֹתֵינוּ רַבּוּ מִלִּמְנוֹת וְחַטֹּאתֵינוּ עָצְמוּ מִסַּפֵּר״. רַב הַמְנוּנָא אָמַר: ״אֱלֹהַי, עַד שֶׁלֹּא נוֹצַרְתִּי אֵינִי כְּדַאי. עַכְשָׁיו שֶׁנּוֹצַרְתִּי, כְּאִילּוּ לֹא נוֹצַרְתִּי. עָפָר אֲנִי בְּחַיַּי, קַל וָחוֹמֶר בְּמִיתָתִי. הֲרֵי אֲנִי לְפָנֶיךָ כִּכְלִי מָלֵא בּוּשָׁה וּכְלִימָּה. יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ שֶׁלֹּא אֶחֱטָא, וּמַה שֶׁחָטָאתִי — מְרוֹק בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ, אֲבָל לֹא עַל יְדֵי יִסּוּרִין״. וְהַיְינוּ וִידּוּיָא דְרָבָא כּוּלַּהּ שַׁתָּא, וּדְרַב הַמְנוּנָא זוּטָא בְּיוֹמָא דְכִפּוּרֵי.

§ The Sages taught: The main mitzva of confession is on Yom Kippur eve when darkness falls. But the Sages said: One should also confess on Yom Kippur eve before he eats and drinks at his last meal before the fast lest he become confused at the meal, due to the abundance of food and drink, and be unable to confess afterward. And although one confessed before he ate and drank, he confesses again after he eats and drinks, as perhaps he committed some sin during the meal itself. And although one confessed during the evening prayer on the night of Yom Kippur, he should confess again during the morning prayer. Likewise, although one confessed during the morning prayer, he should still confess during the additional prayer. Similarly, although one confessed during the additional prayer, he should also confess during the afternoon prayer; and although one confessed during the afternoon prayer, he should confess again during the closing prayer [ne’ila]. And where in the Yom Kippur prayers does one say the confession? An individual says it after his Amida prayer, and the prayer leader says it in the middle of the Amida prayer. The Gemara asks: What does one say; what is the liturgy of the confession? Rav said: One says the prayer that begins: You know the mysteries of the universe, in accordance with the standard liturgy. And Shmuel said that the prayer begins with: From the depths of the heart. And Levi said that it begins: And in your Torah it is written, saying, and one then recites the forgiveness achieved by Yom Kippur as stated in the Torah. Rabbi Yoḥanan said that it begins: Master of the Universe. Rabbi Yehuda said that one says: For our iniquities are too many to count and our sins are too great to number. Rav Hamnuna said: This is the liturgy of the confession: My God, before I was formed I was unworthy. Now that I have been formed, it is as if I had not been formed. I am dust while alive, how much more so when I am dead. See, I am before You like a vessel filled with shame and disgrace. May it be Your will that I may sin no more, and as for the sins I have committed before You, erase them in Your compassion, but not by suffering. The Gemara comments: This is the confession that Rava used all year long; and it was the confession that Rav Hamnuna Zuta used on Yom Kippur.

הַשַּׁעַר הָרִאשׁוֹן – בְּבֵאוּר הַתְּשׁוּבָה וְעִקָּרֶיהָ. מִן הַטּוֹבוֹת אֲשֶׁר הֵיטִיב הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ עִם בְּרוּאָיו, כִּי הֵכִין לָהֶם הַדֶּרֶךְ לַעֲלוֹת מִתּוֹךְ פַּחַת מַעֲשֵׂיהֶם וְלָנוּס מִפַּח פִּשְׁעֵיהֶם, לַחְשֹׂךְ נַפְשָׁם מִנִּי שַׁחַת וּלְהָשִׁיב מֵעֲלֵיהֶם אַפּוֹ, וְלִמְּדָם וְהִזְהִירָם לָשׁוּב אֵלָיו כִּי יֶחֶטְאוּ לוֹ, לְרֹב טוּבוֹ וְיָשְׁרוֹ כִּי הוּא יָדַע יִצְרָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים כה, ח): "טוֹב וְיָשָׁר ה' עַל כֵּן יוֹרֶה חַטָּאִים בַּדָּרֶךְ", וְאִם הִרְבּוּ לִפְשֹׁעַ וְלִמְרוֹד וּבֶגֶד בּוֹגְדִים בָּגָדוּ, לֹא סָגַר בַּעֲדָם דַּלְתֵי תְּשׁוּבָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה לא, ו): "שׁוּבוּ לַאֲשֶׁר הֶעְמִיקוּ סָרָה". וְנֶאֱמַר (ירמיה ג, כב): "שׁוּבוּ בָּנִים שׁוֹבָבִים אֶרְפָּה מְשׁוּבֹתֵיכֶם". וְהֻזְהַרְנוּ עַל הַתְּשׁוּבָה בְּכַמָּה מְקוֹמוֹת בַּתּוֹרָה, וְהִתְבָּאֵר, כִּי הַתְּשׁוּבָה מְקֻבֶּלֶת גַּם כִּי יָשׁוּב הַחוֹטֵא מֵרֹב צָרוֹתָיו, כָּל שֶׁכֵּן אִם יָשׁוּב מִיִּרְאַת הַשֵּׁם וְאַהֲבָתוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים ד, ל): "בַּצַּר לְךָ וּמְצָאוּךָ כֹּל הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה בְּאַחֲרִית הַיָּמִים וְשַׁבְתָּ עַד ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ וְשָׁמַעְתָּ בְּקוֹלוֹ". וְהִתְבָּאֵר בַּתּוֹרָה, כִּי יַעֲזֹר ה' לַשָּׁבִים כַּאֲשֶׁר אֵין יַד טִבְעָם מַשֶּׂגֶת וִיחַדֵּשׁ בְּקִרְבָּם רוּחַ טְהוֹרָה לְהַשִּׂיג מַעֲלַת אַהֲבָתוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים ל, ב): "וְשַׁבְתָּ עַד ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ וְשָׁמַעְתָּ בְקֹלוֹ כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוְּךָ הַיּוֹם אַתָּה וּבָנֶיךָ בְּכָל לְבָבְךָ וּבְכָל נַפְשֶׁךָ". וְאוֹמֵר בְּסוֹף הָעִנְיָן (דברים ל, ו): "וּמָל ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ אֶת לְבָבְךָ וְאֶת לְבַב זַרְעֶךָ" – לְהַשִּׂיג אַהֲבָתוֹ. וְהַנְּבִיאִים וְהַכְּתוּבִים דִּבְּרוּ תָּמִיד עַל דְּבַר הַתְּשׁוּבָה, עַד כִּי בָּאוּ עִקְּרֵי הַתְּשׁוּבָה כֻּלָּם מְפֹרָשִׁים בְּדִבְרֵיהֶם כַּאֲשֶׁר יִתְבָּאֵר. וְהִנֵּה מַדְרֵגוֹת רַבּוֹת לַתְּשׁוּבָה, וּלְפִי הַמַּדְרֵגוֹת יִתְקָרֵב הָאָדָם אֶל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא. וְאָמְנָם לְכָל תְּשׁוּבָה תִּמָּצֵא סְלִיחָה, אַךְ לֹא תִּטְהַר הַנֶּפֶשׁ טֹהַר שָׁלֵם לִהְיוֹת הָעֲוֹנוֹת כְּלֹא הָיוּ, זוּלָתִי כַּאֲשֶׁר יְטַהֵר הָאָדָם אֶת לִבּוֹ וְיָכִין אֶת רוּחוֹ כַּאֲשֶׁר יִתְבָּאֵר. וְכֵן כָּתוּב (תהלים לב, ב): "אַשְׁרֵי אָדָם לֹא יַחְשֹׁב ה' לוֹ עָוֹן וְאֵין בְּרוּחוֹ רְמִיָּה", וּכְעִנְיָן הַבֶּגֶד הַצָּרִיךְ כִּבּוּס, כִּי הַמְּעַט מִן הַכִּבּוּס יוֹעִיל בּוֹ לְהַעֲבִיר הַגֹּעַל מִמֶּנּוּ, אַךְ לְפִי רֹב הַכִּבּוּס יִתְלַבֵּן. וְכֵן כָּתוּב (תהלים נא, ד): "הֶרֶב כַּבְּסֵנִי מֵעֲוֹנִי", וּתְכֻבַּס הַנֶּפֶשׁ מִן הֶעָוֹן כְּפִי אֲשֶׁר תְּכַבֵּס אֶת לִבָּהּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ירמיה ד, יד): "כַּבְּסִי מֵרָעָה לִבֵּךְ יְרוּשָׁלִַם". וְאָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (ע"ז יט, א) "אַשְׁרֵי אִישׁ יָרֵא אֶת ה'" (תהלים קיב, א) – בְּעוֹדוֹ אִישׁ, רְצוֹנָם לוֹמַר, כִּי תְּשׁוּבַת הָאָדָם הַמְּעֻלָּה בִּימֵי בְּחוּרוֹתָיו בְּעוֹד כֹּחוֹ עָלָיו וְיִתְגַּבֵּר עַל יִצְרוֹ. אָכֵן כָּל תְּשׁוּבָה מוֹעִילָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים צ, ג): "תָּשֵׁב אֱנוֹשׁ עַד דַּכָּא וַתֹּאמֶר שׁוּבוּ בְנֵי אָדָם", וְאָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (ירושלמי חגיגה ב, א) עַד דִּכְדּוּכָהּ שֶׁל נֶפֶשׁ. עַתָּה נְבָאֵר עִקְּרֵי הַתְּשׁוּבָה. הָעִקָּר הָרִאשׁוֹן – הַחֲרָטָה: יָבִין לְבָבוֹ כִּי רַע וָמָר עָזְבוֹ אֶת ה', וְיָשִׁיב אֶל לִבּוֹ כִּי יֵשׁ עֹנֶשׁ וְנָקָם וְשִׁלֵּם עַל הֶעָוֹן, כָּעִנְיָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים לב, לה): "לִי נָקָם וְשִׁלֵּם", וְנֶאֱמַר (איוב יט, כט): "גּוּרוּ לָכֶם מִפְּנֵי חֶרֶב כִּי חֵמָה עֲוֹנוֹת חָרֶב". וְיִתְחָרֵט עַל מַעֲשָׂיו הָרָעִים, וְיֹאמַר בִּלְבָבוֹ: מֶה עָשִׂיתִי? אֵיךְ לֹא הָיָה פַּחַד אֱלֹקִים לְנֶגֶד עֵינַי, וְלֹא יָגֹרְתִּי מִתּוֹכָחוֹת עַל עָוֹן וּמִן הַשְּׁפָטִים הָרָעִים, כִּי רַבִּים מַכְאוֹבִים לָרָשָׁע? לֹא חָמַלְתִּי עַל גּוּפִי, וְלֹא חָסָה עֵינִי עָלָיו מִשַּׁחֲתוֹ מִפְּנֵי הֲנָאַת רֶגַע אֶחָד, וְנִמְשַׁלְתִּי לְאִישׁ שֶׁיִּגְזֹל וְיַחְמֹס וְיֹאכַל וְיִשְׂבַּע, וְיוֹדֵעַ כִּי אַחֲרֵי אָכְלוֹ וְאַחֲרֵי שָׁתוֹ יַגְרֵס הַשּׁוֹפֵט בֶּחָצָץ שִׁנָּיו, כָּעִנְיָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (משלי כ, יז): "עָרֵב לָאִישׁ לֶחֶם שָׁקֶר וְאַחַר יִמָּלֵא פִיהוּ חָצָץ". וְרָעָה מִזֹּאת, כִּי הָיִיתִי עַל הַנֶּפֶשׁ הַיְּקָרָה אַכְזָרִי וְנִטְמְאָה בְּגִלּוּלֵי יִצְרִי, וּמָה הוֹעִילָה בְּכָל קִנְיָנֶיהָ אִם רָעָה בְּעֵינֵי אֲדֹנֶיהָ? וְאֵיךְ הֶחֱלַפְתִּי בְּעוֹלָם חוֹלֵף, עוֹלָם עוֹמֵד לָעַד לְעוֹלָם? אֵיךְ נִמְשַׁלְתִּי כִּבְהֵמוֹת נִדְמֵיתִי, וְהָלַכְתִּי אַחֲרֵי יִצְרִי כְּסוּס כְּפֶרֶד אֵין הָבִין וְתָעִיתִי מִדֶּרֶךְ הַשְׁכֵּל? וְהִנֵּה הַבּוֹרֵא נָפַח בְּאַפִּי נִשְׁמַת חַיִּים חַכְמַת לֵב וְטוֹבַת שֵׂכֶל לְהַכִּירוֹ וּלְיִרְאָה מִלְּפָנָיו וְלִמְשׁוֹל בַּגּוּף וְכָל תּוֹלְדוֹתָיו כַּאֲשֶׁר הִמְשִׁילָהּ עַל שְׁאָר בַּעֲלֵי חַיִּים שֶׁאֵינָם מְדַבְּרִים מֵאֲשֶׁר יָקְרָה בְּעֵינָיו נִכְבְּדָה, וְאַחֲרֵי אֲשֶׁר בַּעֲבוּר זֹאת נִבְרֵאתִי, וַיְהִי בִּי הֵפֶךְ מִזֶּה, לָמָּה לִי חַיִּים? כָּעִנְיָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (משלי כא, טז): "אָדָם תּוֹעֶה מִדֶּרֶךְ הַשְׂכֵּל בִּקְהַל רְפָאִים יָנוּחַ". וְעוֹד, כִּי כְּמִשְׁפַּט הַבְּהֵמָה לֹא עָשִׂיתִי, אֲבָל שָׁפַלְתִּי מִמֶּנָּה, כִּי יָדַע שׁוֹר קֹנֵהוּ וַחֲמוֹר אֵבוּס בְּעָלָיו, וַאֲנִי לֹא יָדַעְתִּי וְלֹא הִתְבּוֹנַנְתִּי, וְשָׁלַחְתִּי נַפְשִׁי לַחָפְשִׁי מֵאֲדוֹנֶיהָ, וְטָעַמְתִּי צוּפִי, וְנָשִׁיתִי סוֹפִי, וְגָזַלְתִּי וְחָמַסְתִּי, וְעַל דָּל בּוֹסַסְתִּי, וְלֹא זָכַרְתִּי יוֹם הַמָּוֶת אֲשֶׁר לֹא יַשְׁאִיר לִפְנֵי נִשְׁמָתִי בִּלְתִּי אִם גְּוִיָּתִי וְאַדְמָתִי. וְהָעִנְיָן הַזֶּה אֲשֶׁר בֵּאַרְנוּ הוּא אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר יִרְמְיָה עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם (ירמיה ח, ו): "אֵין אִישׁ נִחָם עַל רָעָתוֹ לֵאמֹר מֶה עָשִׂיתִי".

In explanation of repentance and its principles Among the good things which God, may He be blessed, has bestowed upon His creations is the path which He prepared for them to ascend from the baseness of their actions, to escape the trap of their inequities, to hold their souls back from destruction and to remove His anger from upon them. Because of His goodness and uprightness, He has taught them and warned them to return to Him when they sin against Him - for He understands their nature, as it is stated (Psalms 25:8), "Good and upright is the Lord; therefore He shows sinners the way." [Even] if they greatly sin and rebel and act like treacherous betrayers - He does not close the doors of repentance to them, as it is stated (Isaiah 31:6), "Return, to Him to whom they have been so shamefully false." It is [also] stated (Jeremiah 3:22), "Turn back, O rebellious children, I will heal your afflictions." We are warned about repentance in several places in the Torah. It is explained that repentance is accepted even when the sinner repents because of his many troubles - how much more so [will it be accepted] if he returns because of fear or love of God - as it is stated (Deuteronomy 4:30), "When you are in distress because all these things have befallen you and, in the end, return to the Lord your God and obey Him." It is explained in the Torah that God will help those who repent beyond what their natural ability would allow; and that He renews a pure spirit within them, to reach great heights in His love - as it is stated (Deuteronomy 30:2), "And you return to the Lord your God, and you and your children heed His command with all your heart and soul, just as I enjoin upon you this day." Further, it is stated about the body of the matter (Deuteronomy 30:6), "Then the Lord, your God, will circumcise your heart and the hearts of your offspring," to acquire love for Him. And the Prophets and Writings constantly speak on the subject of repentance, such that the principles of repentance are all explained in their words, as will be explained. And behold that there are many levels of repentance. It is true that you will find forgiveness for any repentance. However the soul will only find complete purification - to be as if the iniquities never had been - when a person purifies his heart and prepares his spirit, as will be explained. And so is it written (Psalms 32:2), "Happy is the man whom the Lord does not hold guilty, and in whose spirit there is no deceit." And it is like the matter of a garment that needs washing: For a little washing will be effective to remove its soiling. However, it will [only] whiten according to the amount of washing. And so is it written there (Psalms 51:4), "Wash me thoroughly of my iniquity." And the soul will be washed from iniquity according to how you wash its heart, as it is stated (Jeremiah 4:14), "Wash your heart clean of wickedness, O Jerusalem." And our Rabbis, may their memory be blessed, said (Avodah Zarah 19a), "'Happy is the man who fears the Lord' (Psalms 112:1) - when he is still a man." This means to say that the most elevated repentance of a man is in the days of his youth - [when] he overcomes his impulse when his strength is still with him. However any repentance is effective, as it is stated (Psalms 90:3), "You return man to dust; You said, 'Return you mortals!'" And our Rabbis, may their memory be blessed, said (Yerushalmi Chagigah 2:1), "Until the soul turns to dust." Now we will explain the principles of repentance. The first principle is regret: His heart should understand that leaving God is bad and bitter; and he should place into his heart that there is punishment, vengeance and repayment for iniquity, as it is stated (Deuteronomy 32:35), "To be My vengeance and repayment." And it is stated (Job 19:29), "Be in fear of the sword, for [your] fury is iniquity worthy of the sword." And he should regret his bad deeds and say in his heart, "What have I done? How did I not have fear of God in front of my eyes, and did not become afraid from the rebukes of iniquity and from the harsh judgments? For there are many aches [waiting] for the evildoer. I did not pity my body; and for a moment of pleasure, my eyes did not pity its being destroyed. I became like a man who robs and extorts, eats and is satiated; but who knows that after his eating and his drinking, the judge will grind his teeth with gravel - like the matter that is stated (Proverbs 20:17), 'but later his mouth will be filled with gravel.' And worse than this, I was cruel to the dear soul and I rendered it impure with the idols of my impulse. And what did it gain from all of its acquisitions, if they are bad in the eyes of its Master? And how did I trade a passing world for a world that exists for ever and ever? How have I become similar to animals? As I have gone after my impulse like a horse, like a mule that does not understand. And I have strayed from the way of the intellect. And behold the Creator blew a living soul into my nose - a wise heart and the benefit of intellect - in order to recognize Him and fear Him and to govern over the body and all of its actions, like it governs over the other animals that do not speak, because it is precious in His eyes. And though I was created like this, it has become the opposite of this in me. Why am I alive? It is like the matter that is stated (Proverbs 21:16), 'A man who strays from the path of the intellect will rest in the company of ghosts.' Moreover I have not [even] fulfilled the precept of the animal. Rather I have been lower than that. For the ox knows its master and the donkey the trough of its owner; whereas I have not known and not reflected. And I have sent my soul to be free from its master. So I have tasted my nectar, but forgotten my end. And I have stolen and extorted and trampled upon the indigent. I have not remembered the day of death, upon which nothing will remain before my soul besides my corpse and my dirt." And this matter that we have explained is that which Jeremiah, peace be upon him, had spoken, "No one regrets his wickedness and says, 'What have I done?'"

וּמַה הִיא הַתְּשׁוּבָה. הוּא שֶׁיַּעֲזֹב הַחוֹטֵא חֶטְאוֹ וִיסִירוֹ מִמַּחֲשַׁבְתּוֹ וְיִגְמֹר בְּלִבּוֹ שֶׁלֹּא יַעֲשֵׂהוּ עוֹד שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה נה ז) "יַעֲזֹב רָשָׁע דַּרְכּוֹ" וְגוֹ'. וְכֵן יִתְנַחֵם עַל שֶׁעָבַר שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ירמיה לא יט) "כִּי אַחֲרֵי שׁוּבִי נִחַמְתִּי". וְיָעִיד עָלָיו יוֹדֵעַ תַּעֲלוּמוֹת שֶׁלֹּא יָשׁוּב לְזֶה הַחֵטְא לְעוֹלָם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (הושע יד ד) "וְלֹא נֹאמַר עוֹד אֱלֹהֵינוּ לְמַעֲשֵׂה יָדֵינוּ" וְגוֹ'. וְצָרִיךְ לְהִתְוַדּוֹת בִּשְׂפָתָיו וְלוֹמַר עִנְיָנוֹת אֵלּוּ שֶׁגָּמַר בְּלִבּוֹ:

What constitutes Teshuvah? That a sinner should abandon his sins and remove them from his thoughts, resolving in his heart, never to commit them again as [Isaiah 55:7] states "May the wicked abandon his ways...." Similarly, he must regret the past as [Jeremiah 31:19] states: "After I returned, I regretted." [He must reach the level where] He who knows the hidden will testify concerning him that he will never return to this sin again as [Hoshea 14:4] states: "We will no longer say to the work of our hands: `You are our gods.'" He must verbally confess and state these matters which he resolved in his heart.

כְּלָלוֹ שֶׁל דָּבָר, צָרִיךְ הָאָדָם לִהְיוֹת מִתְבּוֹנֵן בְּשִׂכְלוֹ תָּמִיד בְּכָל זְמַן וּבִזְמַן קָבוּעַ לוֹ בְּהִתְבּוֹדְדוֹ, מָה הוּא הַדֶּרֶךְ הָאֲמִתִּי לְפִי חֹק הַתּוֹרָה שֶׁהָאָדָם צָרִיךְ לֵילֵךְ בּוֹ. וְאַחַר כָּךְ יָבוֹא לְהִתְבּוֹנֵן עַל מַעֲשָׂיו אִם הֵם עַל הַדֶּרֶךְ הַזֶּה אִם לֹא, כִּי עַל יְדֵי זֶה וַדַּאי שֶׁיִּהְיֶה לוֹ נָקֵל לְטַהֵר מִכָּל רַע וּלְיַשֵּׁר כָּל דְּרָכָיו.

And what is the counsel they give us? "Let us enter into an accounting, come and consider the accounting of the world". For they already experienced, saw and learned, that this alone is the true path leading a man to the good which he seeks, and that there is none other besides this.

אבל מעתה תוכל להאמין עד כמה דבריו נדרשים עוד בגוונין אמתיים אחרים למבינים, ולא נתכוונתי בכאן אלא להראותך אפשרות הדבר ע"פ דוגמא בלבד, ובכדי שתוכל לראות מכאן ענין מדרגת הבינה בדברים המובנים כבר, כשהם נאמרים בדרך הגדה או מליצה, והיה בדעתי לכתוב לך כמו כן עליית הכוונה לברכה ראשונה של בה"מ וברוך משנה הבריות, וברכת הנותן לשכוי בינה, ואתה חונן לאדם דעת ולהבין לך ע"פ דוגמאות ברורות כיצד נהפכין הגיונות השכליות למדות והרגשות הלב וכו' אבל טורח עלי הדבר מפני כובד עיני כו' ואתה שלום: