1) One who only regrets doing a sin but does not resolve to [try and] never do it again, is not considered to have regretted doing the sin properly, as if one truly realized that what he did was immoral how can he not resolve to [try and] not repeat it.
Furthermore, not resolving to [try and] not repeat the sin again is a sign that he doesn't realize the severity of his actions and merely looks at his sin as a "nice thing to try to not do " or a "chumrah, stringency" but not as the severe sin against Hashem that it was. (See Nidchei Yisroel Perek 34)
2) It is for this reason that it is of utmost importance for every Jew to learn Halacha and to know what is expected of him or her , to determine what is "black and white" Halacha, what is chumrah and what is minhag.
Knowing the severity of each sin, and its prescribed consequences, will not only serve to ensure it isn't done, but will also serve to enable one to do proper Teshuva in the event that it was transgressed. (See Chayei Adam Klal 143, Peleh Yoetz; "Teshuva" and Sha'arei Teshuva Sha'ar 1 Siman 37 and Sha'ar 3 Siman 3)
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:
Are you supposed to answer 'Amen" to a [small child's] bracha?
Answer:
See archives, halachos for June 25 2009 here
Rav Shlomo Zalmen Auerbach Zatzal (in Halichos Shlomo Perek 22:20) writes that although a regular Amen is not said when hearing a Bracha from a child that does not understand to whom he is saying the bracha (Hashem), one should pretend to answer Amen by saying an incomplete "Ame..." so the child should think that you answered amen and learn to answer Amen to brachos that he hears.
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.
IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING MEANINGFUL FOR THIS SECTION, PLEASE EMAIL IT TO HalachaForToday@Gmail.com
THANK YOU AND תזכו למצות!
זכר צדיק וקדוש לברכה
Do you ever feel like " I want to do Teshuvah, but I just can't!"
Do you ever really want to change, but just don't feel ready?
Do you ever do something you know you shouldn't be doing and feel bad about it?
Well, just knowing that it's wrong, feeling bad that you aren't able to be better yet and really wanting to do Teshuva are themselves a very important fisrt step in returning to Hashem.
Never underestimate the power of a heart that yearns for closeness to Hashem; a heart that is saddened by not yet being where it knows it needs to be.
Hashem loves such a person, and ultimately will help them do proper Teshuva as well.
Important Numbers
