The Ten Days of Repentance: 8 Inspiring Insights

1. Rabbi Simcha Bunim of Peshischa used to say that in the heavenly court, a person will not be asked why they sinned, but rather why they did not return in repentance.

2. In the 'Pele Yoetz', under the entry 'Repentance', it is written: "And if all year a person followed the desires of their heart and was lulled into a slumber by their inclinations, then when the days of desire and mercy, the month of compassion and the Ten Days of Repentance arrive, it's not a time to slumber or sleep, for the King, in judgment, sustains the earth. One should awaken like a person roused from sleep... for these are days of favor, and one's prayer and repentance bear fruit during them."

3. It is written in the holy texts that "the difference between the Ten Days of Repentance and other days regarding repentance and prayer is like the difference between light and darkness, and one hour of repentance and good deeds in these days is more beautiful than days or years of them on other days."

4. In 'Shaarei Teshuva': "It is worthy for every God-fearing person to reduce their business dealings and let their thoughts be devoted, establishing times day and night to seclude themselves, examine their ways and explore, anticipating the dawn, and engage in the paths of repentance and appropriate actions, pouring out prayer, carrying supplication and melody, and pleading. These are days of favor, where prayer is heard, as it is said 'at a time of favor I answered you, and on a day of salvation I helped you.'"

5. The 'Rashit Chochmah' adds that these days are like a festival's intermediate days since there is a holy day before and after them. He says: "...even if one is compelled to be involved with their livelihood and sustenance, they should remember well which days we are currently in."

6. The essence of confession and repentance is the commitment for the future, to leave behind the habits one has accustomed themselves to until now. The 'Chiddushei HaRim' used to say during these days that "where a person's thoughts are, there the person is with their entire soul. Therefore, when a person focuses on the damage, they are within the negative, and surely will not return in repentance; their mind becomes heavy, causing numbness of the heart, possibly leading to sadness. Thinking about the wickedness is worse than the sin itself, because when one thinks about leaving evil and the mire—they remain in the mire." The 'Chiddushei HaRim' speaks formidable words: "Yes, sin—no sin—what does Hashem gain from this, and at the time one thinks about it, they might uncover pearls, therefore turn away from evil—remove yourself from evil, do not dwell on it, do good, as it is said, if you have committed bundles of sins, perform commandments against them... with clear intent."

7. One should not say: I lack the strength to climb and reach the highest levels in attachment to the Creator, in love and fear. Such a person should internalize the words of our sages: "It is not upon you to complete the work, but neither are you free to desist from it." The Bach said that indeed, it is determined that a person must purify themselves on the eve of Yom Kippur by immersion in a mikvah of purity, despite that, in our times, we are all impure due to contact with the dead, and the immersion does not purify us from this impurity. Still, we must immerse ourselves on the eve of Yom Kippur to at least purify ourselves as much as we can, and upon every purification, one must bless when purifying oneself (even though practically, one does not bless). From here, we learn that a person should do everything within their power, and even if they cannot purify themselves completely, at least they should purify themselves as best as they can, and then it is considered as if they have done it perfectly."

8. From this, we can learn that in all matters of serving the Creator, especially in the work of purification and repentance, a person should not throw up their hands or relax their hold on their Father in Heaven, but rather do everything within their capability, with great effort and toil, and then it will be fulfilled for them 'God completes it for me.'"