The Simcha of Teshuva

Responsibility for Teshuva Within Our Family: "Does Father Know Best?"

Ein Aya Shabbat 2, 292

Teshuva is usually seen from my personal point of view, but Rav Kook deals with the very common problem of taking responsibility to rebuke our children and even our wives/husbands, to purify the spiritual atmosphere of our homes. This issue is seldom dealt with, and the class deals with many practical suggestions and solutions how to politely rebuke without having it be counterproductive.

Fear of Elul

Right now, faced with the prospect of having to turn my life and my emotions upside down, I go into a panic that results in total spiritual paralysis. Fear of Elul.

National (vs. Individual) T'Shuva

What "national t'shuva" is, how it differs from individual t'shuva, and why it takes precedence in this generation.

Sin is Divisive Chaos While Tshuva is a Life of Uniting Harmony

Rav Kook sees that the nature of Tshuva is among the most basic of ideas to understand life & the world. The sinner lives a life of self-centeredness, who inevitably will have difficulty finding love & lasting relationships, seeing the world as chaotic & pessimistic. Children eventually mature, learning to share & give. Kabbala refers to the pessimists who see our 3 dimensional world as Alma D'Piruda, "World of Division", rather than the believer in Unity & God, Who created a world of harmony. The Torah teaches how to find harmony in a complex world. One can see the violence in the animal world as chaotic, but if one steps back & views the entire picture he sees a harmonic orderly food-chain. All creation follows God's program, & man would be wise to choose so, as well, and "Join the Unity".

Why Ba'alei T'shuva Davka Shouldn't Become Anti-Zionists!

Rav Kook's Letter on Teshuva to Rav Charlap

There's a common scenario, where someone becomes a Ba'al Teshuva, strengthening himself religiously, & indirectly, davka becomes less Zionist! Rav Kook ironically deals with this issue way before it was common, as part of his overall & innovative understanding of Teshuva, in this classic letter to his student, R. Charlap. Explaining that the concept of Evolution is the basis of Creation, & that constant improvement is the most natural process for the individual & mankind. This central drive is what's behind most of Torah, life and goals. Zionism is the easiest way to see God today, thru how He runs processes of advancement in history, fulfills prophecies, returns Altruism and Nationalism to their proper place, reviving the "Or LaGoyim" etc.

Rav Kook's Orot HaT'shuva- In a Nutshell! Tshuva Can Be Happy- Not Depressing!

Innovatively but based upon the sources, Rav Kook entirely changes our view of T'shuva. The period of Elul until Yom Kippur is unfortunately, seen by most as depressing. Although we know T'shuva is important, we don't enjoy it & don't like changing. The mistake stems from the mistranslation: "Repentence" from "sin". Accordingly, Tshuva has terrible "PR", where the religious see it as something for the non-religious, and the non-religious say it's for the religious! Rav Kook says that the world is based on constant "Evolution" and improvement. Sports records are constantly improving, & toothpaste is always "new & improved!" Mankind and man improve thru "Trial & Error", & the most natural thing in the world is to follow the tide & improve!

The Side Door

An uplifting, true story about a jew who missed the "Kol Nidrei" but did not give up, and found the "side door".

Define good and bad

Sparks of Teshuva (8) - Ideas From Orot Hatshuvah

When we come to do Teshuva we should define what is good and what is bad. First we set the goal and then we find the way to achieve it.

Sadness is only a guest

Sparks of Teshuva (7) - Ideas From Orot Hatshuvah

Sadness has an important role in Teshuva, but it should be only guest of the soul and not a permanent tenant.

Is Teshuva Artificial?

Sparks of Teshuva (6) - Ideas From Orot Hatshuvah

Does a one day of Teshuva have a meaning? Aren't the High Holidays artificial?

Tasteful Wood

Sparks of Teshuva (5) - Ideas From Orot Hatshuvah

Why do trees don't have the taste of their fruit, what is the analogy to our lives and how is this related to Teshuva?

How Does Teshuvah Work?

Sparks of Teshuva (4) - Ideas From Orot Hatshuvah

Sparks of Teshuva (4) - Ideas From Orot Hatshuvah

A Live Teshuvah

Sparks of Teshuva (3) - Ideas From Orot Hatshuvah

Sparks of Teshuva (3) - Ideas From Orot Hatshuvah

Perfection and Process

Sparks of Teshuva (2) - Ideas From Orot Hatshuvah

Sparks of Teshuva (2) - Ideas From Orot Hatshuvah

Introduction to Teshuvah

Sparks of Teshuva (1) - Ideas From Orot Hatshuvah

Sparks of Teshuva (1) - Ideas From Orot Hatshuvah