Questions tagged [repentance-teshuvah]
Questions pertaining to repentance for one's past sins and transgressions and the concept of teshuvah
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Vasectomy reversal
A Jew had a vasectomy before he was aware of the severity of the sin.
Is he obligated to undergo a reversal?
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Which steps of Tshuva must be said out loud?
There are multiple stages to Tshuva.
Unfortunately we make many small mistakes every day. It becomes cumbersome to do Tshuva for all of them and say them all out loud (all stages).
Which ones must be ...
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Are gentiles obligated to help Jews do teshuva?
Rabbi Yaron Reuven says that one of the top obligations of gentiles is to "help Jews become more Jewish." "The goyim have to help Am Yisrael do teshuva." Is there a source in Torah ...
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Tzedakah Missing from the Purim Story
After Mordechai heard abut the decree of death placed upon the Jews he went out publicly in a display of mourning, pleading with the Jews to repent (teshuvah) which they ultimately did, and he prayed (...
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Teshuva for wasting seed
Is feeling remorse, praying for forgiveness and studying Torah enough to rectify the heavy sin of wasting seed ?
I know that every sin has its own unique way of "correcting" or rectifying it.
And ...
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Teshuvah: How to return or going back to one's true nature?
In the 5th bracha of the Amidah, we request from HaShem "our father" (אבינו), to return us (השיבנו) we mention three kinds of Teshuvah – 1. returning to HaShem, 2.returning to the Torah, and ...
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Teshuvah still possible when Mashiach comes or not? [duplicate]
BH
I heard when Mashiach comes we will be indefinitely doing teshuvah forever.
From another place I heard that when Mashiach comes teshuvah will be closed and no more teshuvah will be possible (I ...
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Repent, but NOT Because God Commands So ...?
The L'Dofkei B'Tshuva cites the Beit Yitzchak (B"Y) who states that the act of Teshuva needs no specific accompanying intent to fulfill the mitzva - unlike other mitzvot. Teshuva is all about ...
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Why did the plague of the first born work in changing Pharaoh's mind? (in light of explanation of R Albo and Sforno on Pharaoh's free will)
We are told that Hashem hardened the heart of Pharaoh in order that he would not be intimidated into letting the Jewish people go, but would still have the free will to be able to decide based on how ...
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How is the hardening of pharaoh’s heart reconciled with the fact you can always repent
There is a principle in Judaism that it is possible to repent for any transgression, even idolatry. My question is, how is this reconciled with the fact that hashem hardened pharaoh’s heart in the ...
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Requesting forgiveness when in doubt
Rambam writes in Teshuva 2,9 that one must ask a person for forgiveness when he has wronged him and personal Teshuva is not enough.
I have seen people (and I myself have often done this) asking for ...
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Tikkun haklali in English vs. Hebrew
Rabbi Alon Anava says that reading the Tikun Haklali in Hebrew is a 1000 times more powerful than English. But my question is, what if I pronounce the Hebrew wrong? Does that disqualify my reading ...
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Explain the water pouring ceremony of Samuel
In 1 Samuel 7:6 as part of the repentance of the nation the people draw and pour out water. Many commentators explain this as being symbolic of obeisance as if their are pouring out their hearts. My ...
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Any hope for people who say, "I will sin then repent, sin then repent"?
One who says, ‘I will sin, then repent; I will sin, then repent’ is not permitted to repent.
(Masechet Yoma 85b)
What happens to somebody who says to himself, "I will sin then repent, sin then ...
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(Why) did God take away free will from the sons of Eli?
In 1 Shmuel 2:25 it indicates that the sons of Eli don't repent for their sins because God wanted to kill them
וְלֹ֤א יִשְׁמְעוּ֙ לְק֣וֹל אֲבִיהֶ֔ם כִּֽי־חָפֵ֥ץ ה' לַהֲמִיתָֽם
But [the sons of Eli] ...
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Repentance on Shabbath
Because Shabbath is a day of celebration and happiness, if one erred in preforming Torah, are they allowed to repent on Shabbath? Being that repentance requires a sense of remorsefulness and sadness?
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Seeking Sources on Living Piously in a Secular World [closed]
In today's society, where secular influence is prevalent, many individuals are navigating the balance between religious observance and worldly engagements. This leads to the question: How does ...
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When was Adam restored to favor?
In the Guide for the Perplexed (Part 1, Chapter 7), Rambam quotes the Midrash which states that during the 130 years when Adam was under rebuke, he begat spirits, i.e demons; when, however, he was ...
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When does G-d desiring a person to "return and live" apply?
In the machzor there are many variations on a theme that G-d does not desire the death of the wicked, but really wants them to do teshuva and live. For example,
For your praise is just as your name. ...
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Why is there no mention of the distinction between teshuva me'ahava and teshuva me'yira in the Rambam's hilchos teshuva?
In all 10 chapters of the Rambam's hilchos teshuva, there is no mention of teshuva me'ahava or teshuv me'yira, why is that?
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Natural disasters and Israel
Is there any correlation of an uptick in natural disasters and ימים נוראים?
The basis is from the gemara in yevamot
אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בַּר אֲבִינָא: אֵין פּוּרְעָנוּת בָּאָה לָעוֹלָם אֶלָּא ...
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Elul Cheshbon HaNefesh
How does one make a Cheshbon HaNefesh during Elul. I'm aware of the technique given in Sefer Cheshbon HaNefesh, but that is intended (and set up as) as a year round exercise. Is there anything more ...
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TIKKUN OLAM תיקון עולם [closed]
I am looking for material about TIKKUN OLAM, POST TALMUDIC PERIOD, NOT kabbalist (too difficult for my students) somebody can give share a few links or detailed resources?
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Teshuva and Torah study
There are, according to the famous work of the Rabbeinu Yonah "Shaarei Teshuvah", twenty principles of teshuvah (mentioned in the first chapter). The Rabbeinu Yonah writes that for example, ...
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Looking for online resources to learn about the Midot
I want to work on my middot. I'm already learning Mussar and am now in search of the teachings of pinimiut referencing the 13 Attributes and also the characteristics that reside within, namely 7 ...
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Asking For Mercy vs. Repentance On Shabbath
Being that one is not allowed to do teshuvah tataah on Shabbath, is asking for mercy for committing a melacha or sin on Shabbath the same as repentance? For example, “Hashem, I ask for your ...
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Why wouldn’t G-d allow the decree against the Asarah Harugei Malchus to be overturned?
In general, a bad decree from G-d can be overturned through repentance and davening, while a good one can never be revoked. (This is a major theme in the books of Yirmiya and Yonah, among others.)
...
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Did Esav do Teshuva?
The Chizkuni Bireishis 25:8 says at the end of his comment that Esav also did Teshuva. Is there other sources for this amongst the Rishonim and Chazal?
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The Rambam's "Complete Repentence" + halachical logistics
In Chapter 2 of the Mishnah Torah on Repentance, the Rambam presents an achingly romantic view of "Complete Repentance" (doubly romantic as it involves love between both a man and a woman and a man ...
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What is Teshuvah?
I’m trying to understand what Teshuvah is, is it repenting and ceasing evil or also restitution?
I ask because restitution is not always possible
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How does one complete tshuvah for a jewish woman having a child with a non-jew?
If a Jewish woman has a child with a non-Jewish man, is there a standard repentance process recommended in the sources? This is specifically repentance regarding having the child, not regarding ...
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Tikkun for sex with a non jew?
The arizal says that it is a big sin to have sex with a non jew. If someone had sex with one how can he repent for that?
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In Orthodox Judaism, can a person repent for a sin normatively punished by death?
Say someone commits a sin that is normatively punished by death - can one perform teshuva and be forgiven in such a case? Is the situation different for sins classified as yehareg ve'al ya'avor (...
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Forgiveness after repentance?
There are many teachings that a sincere repentance will bring forgiveness. One example:
Shim'on bar Yohai said: If a person was perfectly just all his days and at the end he rebelled, he lost all he ...
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If all Jews reaccepted the covenant w/ love and did complete teshuvah after being saved during the Purim events why weren't they redeemed immediately?
Achashverosh ruled over all (majority) the Jews in the world in 127 provinces.
All the Jews reaccepted the covenant out of love (voluntarily)
“They stood beneath the mountain”: Rav Avidni bar Chama ...
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Yisro and the message of the convert
This weeks parasha (Yisro) starts with the posuk stating that:
When Yisro, the priest of Midyan, Moshe’s father in law, heard of all that G-d had done for Moshe, and for Yisrael his people, and that ...
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How to use the Tikkun HaKlali?
Not too long ago I bumped onto a video on YouTube by user Shaarei Binah entitled “Tikkun HaKlali General Rectification of the Soul with Kavvanot”.
I was looking at the video itself, in the description ...
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Apologizing On Shabbath Day
Being that one is supposed to be happy on Shabbath, on The Shabbath Day, is one allowed to apologize to one they wronged?
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How can we compare a Ba'al Ga'avah who did teshuva to avraham avinu?
It says in Masechet Sotah 5a:
דָרַש רַב עֲוְִירָא זִמְנִין אָמַר לָהּ מִשְּמֵיהּ דְרַב אַסִּי וְְזִמְנִין אָמַר לָהּ מִשְּמֵיהּ דְרַב אַמִי כָל אָדָם שֶיֵּש בוֹ גַּסּוּת הָרוּחַ לַסּוֹף מִתְמַעֵט ...
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Teshuvah and Justice
I am confused about the issue of Teshuvah. Is it only for Jews? If not, what is the process like for Gentiles? Who legislates on this?
Another doubt is the dynamics of forgiveness and justice. In ...
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Concept of sinner?
In Judaism is there a concept of being a sinner.
What I mean by that is in the xhristian religion, most everyone considers themselves a sinner. Would not the point be to consider yourself righteous ...
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Feeling overwhelmed with too much teshuva to do
I'm having practical difficulty with something that seems to be a contradiction to me.
On the one hand, we're told that practical advice for Elul/RH/YK is to take on a single small thing to improve on,...
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Why did Joab grip the ram horns of the altar? [duplicate]
In Kings 2:28 it is written:
When the news reached Joab, he fled to the Tent of the Lord and grasped the horns of the altar - for Joab had sided with Adonijah, though he had not sided with Absalom.
...
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Parameters of a Cheshbon Hanefesh
I've come across the concept of a Cheshbon Hanefesh (eg. in Garden of Emunah). Is this a universally recognised thing? Is there any halacha about it? Do different opinions consider it to be ...
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I "stole" an ice cube. What can I do for Kaparah?
Yesterday, I was stung by a bee while walking at the zoo. After icing down the sting for a while, I continued on my way. A few minutes later, however, the bee-sting began to hurt again. I happened ...
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Teshuva knowing that I'm likely to sin again
Every year I have a very similar list of aveiros that I want to stop. Practically, I know that it is too much to expect myself to have completely stopped all of them by next Rosh Hashana, so I ...
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Rambam's example for teshuva
Rambam, Mishneh Torah, Hilchos Teshuva 2:1:
For example, a person engaged in illicit sexual relations with a
woman. Afterwards, they met in privacy, in the same country, while his
love for her and ...
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Does coming to God near death count less than coming to God when times are good?
Growing old and dying are a normal part of life.
For some people though, the realization time is running out can result in them pursuing God in a last minute act of desperation.
Hypothetically ...
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What's the difference between all the sins in vidui?
When saying ashamnu, bagadnu, gazalnu, etc, I'd like to have something specific in mind that feels relatable/relevant for each sin category. What's the difference between each of these sin categories ...
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What are we supposed to achieve during our lifetime?
I originally asked this- Feeling overwhelmed with too much teshuva to do and I've realised that there is a more basic question that I should have asked.
What are we supposed to achieve during our ...
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