 Din and Rachamim Ramchal asks – how is it possible for teshuvah (repentance) to help? “…Indeed how can one correct that which he ruined – and the sin was
already done. One who killed or committed a licentious act, how can he change the action, can he then remove or alter what was already done? However, Hashem granted through rachamim (mercy) … that sinners be granted with full chesed (kindness) that through teshuvah the changing and uprooting of one’s will be recognized as if the action was also uprooted.”
How Does Teshuvah Help?
What we have from the Mesilas Yeshorim then is that pertaining to the trait of midas hadin (strict judgment) teshuvah does not help. Feelings of remorse and desire (to repent) cannot uproot an action done previously. It is only through chesed and rachamim that teshuvah helps.
Horav Elchonon Wasserman
Horav Elchonon Wasserman zt”l
asks on this from a Gemara.
One who was righteous his whole life but at the very end is toheh al harishonos (he regrets having done all his previous good deeds) indeed loses them all. “We see from there that remorse and change of will can erase the actions of his good deeds. Here you must say that it is due to midas hadin because chesed and rachamim would not be used against a person to deprive him of his previous mitzvos. So we see that even according to midas hadin thoughts of remorse can undo actions – not like the Mesilas Yeshorim.”
Rav Elchonon asked this question on the Mesilas Yeshorim to his Rebbe, the Chofetz Chaim.
Two Types of Teshuvah
Before going further the following distinction is important. There are basically two types of teshuvah. (a) Teshuvah me’yirah (out of fear of punishment). This type of teshuvah turns an aveirah (sin) which was done on purpose into an inadvertent one. (b) Teshuvah me’ahavah (done out of love for Hashem). This type of teshuvah turns the aveirah into a zechus (a merit, as if he had done a mitzvah).
The Chofetz Chaim
The Chofetz Chaim answered Rav Elchonon that indeed teshuvah is a chesed. In teshuvah me’ahavah, that which the aveiros become zechuyos is a chesed because through din why should they become zechuyos. Teshuvah me’yirah is a chesed because in actuality he is not at all sorry that he did the aveirah. He is just afraid of being punished. The Chofetz Chaim is saying that indeed in most aspects teshuvah helps through chesed and not din. However, it is not because thought cannot change action as the Mesilas Yeshorim said. This will make a difference as follows.
Teshuvah Through Din
It comes out that according to the Chofetz Chaim, teshuvah me’ahavah is only a chesed to make the aveirah into a zechus. However, to eradicate the aveirah it would, indeed, help through din because unlike teshuvah me’yirah he is actually sorry that he did the aveirah. The Chofetz Chaim makes no differentiation between action and thought.
Gone Forever or Not
So far nothing much new has been said and many people already know the above. What I believe, however, to be of interest are the following.
A person was toheh al harishonos and lost all his mitzvos. However, the next day he does teshuvah on his being toheh. Does he get all his mitzvos back or once they’re gone, they’re gone? Or vice-versa. A person does teshuvah on all his aveiros. The next day he is toheh on the teshuvah. Do the aveiros come back or again, once he did teshuvah on them, they’re gone?
Aveiros of the Mind
There are aveiros a person does with his mind or emotions, i.e. improper thoughts, hating a fellow Yid, being jealous, etc. Will the Mesilas Yeshorim agree that since no action was involved teshuvah helps even through din?
Speaking Aveiros
The Gemara
states that a chait (sin) done through speaking (e.g. loshon hora – gossip) is not considered an action. Can we say that this also pertains to what the Mesilas Yeshorim is saying and, therefore, since it is not considered an action, teshuvah would help even through midas hadin?
To Lack a Mitzvas Asei
Someone does not do a Mitzvas Asei (a positive commandment) like not putting on tefillin, not saying Shema on time (in the morning it is said during the first three halachic hours of the day) and then does teshuvah. Since he did not transgress with an action, teshuvah should help even according to midas hadin.
Me’uvas Lo Yuchal Liskon
If a person does teshuvah me’ahavah on not saying Shema is it considered as if he did say it? If so, why does the Gemara
call it a me’uvas lo yuchal liskon (crooked thing that cannot be straightened)? It can be straightened if one does teshuvah me’ahavah.
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