Today's Halachos dedicated by the Rabbinically Approved www.MikvahCalendar.com
1) The three main aspects of Teshuva (as brought in the Rambam Hilchos Teshuva Perek 2:2) are:
a) Charata, remorse for doing something against the will of Hashem.
b) Kabala al HaAsid, genuine resolve to not repeat the sin.
c) Vidui, verbalizing the above remorse and resolve.
Complete Kapara, heavenly forgiveness, is not achieved until all three of the aforementioned conditions are met. (See Minchas Chinuch Mitzvah 364)
2) Besides for the Mitzvah aspect of Vidui, the Torah's requirement to verbalize the sin, doing so also serves a practical purpose, as when one "hears" himself enumerating his sins it causes his heart to sense the severity of the sin and better aides in resolving to not repeat it. (See Minchas Chinuch ibid.)
The verbalizing of the sins, the Vidui, is only a Mitzvah if one is genuine in his remorse and doesn't have intention to repeat the sin he is saying Vidui on.
If one does say a insincere Vidu, not only is it not a proper Teshuva, it is in it of itself a sin as it is considered "lying" to Hashem; in fact one of the "Al Cheit" that we say on Yom Kippur is "Al Cheit SheChatanu Lefanecha B'Vidui Peh, forgive us Hashem for sinning before You via [insincere] vidui with our mouth" (See Sefer Chareidim Perek 63 and Chayei Adam Klal 143. See also Midrash Rabbah Parshas Balak Perek 20:13 that although such a vidui is not valid for Teshuva, it does work to prevent certain heavenly retribution.)
QUESTION & ANSWER CORNER
Reader Submitted Questions of interest on topics related to Halachos we covered, as well as other interesting topic and Answers.
These Q&A are taken from the Q & A pages on the Halacha For Today website.
Although the answers I give to questions are taken directly from the Sifrei HaPoskim, and aren't my own, they are still for study purposes only, NOT for Psak Halacha.
Questions can be emailed to HalachaForToday@Gmail.com
Reader's Question:
If I need to check my mezuzot in my home, and it will take a few days, is it okay to leave the house without mezuzot for a few days?
Answer:
No, you should not sleep in a home that does not have mezuzos.
Either put up temporary ones while yours are being checked (many Sofrim offer loaner mezuzos while they check) or have them checked and replaced same day (many Sofrim offer these same day house calls)
CHIZUK CORNER
This section is dedicated L'Ilui Nishmas the late Telzer Rosh Yeshiva , HaRav Chaim Yaakov ben Rav Binyomin Moshe Stein Zatzal.
We will B'Ezras Hashem post here each day a short inspirational thought to help us all improve our lives and grow in our service of our Father in heaven, HaKadosh Baruch Hu.
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THANK YOU AND תזכו למצות!
זכר צדיק וקדוש לברכה
Teshuva is often interpreted as "repentance".
Although, that's true in a sense, the actual definition of Teshuva is "Return", returning to Hashem.
When we sin we get distanced from Hashem, and that is the saddest thing that can happen to a human being, as closeness to Hashem, our Father, is the best thing for our souls.
When we do Teshuva, besides for regretting our sins and resolving to not repeat them, we must also heal the rift that we caused to happen between us and our Father in heaven.
When we daven, we are in essence talking to Hashem, and thus when done with sincerity we are becoming close to our Father again.
Important Numbers
