לקוטי שיחות חלק ד׳ הוספות - עשרת ימי תשובה

Aseres Yemei Teshuvah

[Continued from the previous page] … the concept of "תשובה עילאה" ("Teshuvah Ila'ah," the higher level of repentance) ([OCR unclear] which is the chief quality of baalei teshuvah [OCR unclear], as explained in Iggeres HaTeshuvah, end of ch. 8), which is the gathering and assembling of all the powers of the soul [OCR unclear]. And in these days there is also the gathering and assembling of all [OCR unclear] of [OCR unclear] — as it is written, "בהתאסף ראשי עם יחד שבטי ישראל" ("When the heads of the people gather, together with the tribes of Israel").

Great is the virtue of Teshuvah Ila'ah, and especially in this time. For in the time of the Sanhedrin, those liable to death by the court who repented — the earthly court did not pardon them. But now, when [OCR unclear] only [OCR unclear] remains, and it is handed over to the Heavenly Court — if he repents, the Heavenly Court pardons him, and no trace whatsoever remains of his earlier deeds (Makkos 13b; and see there [OCR unclear]; Responsa Noda BiYehudah, first edition, Orach Chaim, sec. 35).

And although regarding the atonement of Yom Kippur our Sages set limits — that for "half the measure" it does not atone, and some say that one who is liable to punishment but did not sin, Yom Kippur does not exempt him from the punishment (Kerisos [OCR unclear], Tosafos s.v. [OCR unclear]; ibid. 7a, end [OCR unclear]) — nevertheless, "nothing stands in the way of baalei teshuvah."

May it be G‑d's will that there be fulfilled in each and every one of us the blessing of my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe, of blessed memory, which he was accustomed to give to those who came in to him on the Eve of Yom Kippur after midday to ask for his blessing: "דער אויבערשטער זאָל מעורר זיין מיט א התעוררות תשובה אמתית" ("May the A-lmighty arouse you with an arousal of true teshuvah") [OCR unclear — apparently a parenthetical citing "ישראל עושין תשובה ומיד" ("Israel will do teshuvah and immediately [be redeemed]")] — from the innermost depths and the very point of the heart.

(From [OCR unclear — closing source line unreadable] 57[OCR unclear])

Key Lesson

Teshuvah Ila'ah gathers every power of the soul, and in our time it is especially potent: once judgment rests with the Heavenly Court, sincere repentance erases every trace of past wrongs, and "nothing stands in the way of baalei teshuvah." This Sicha closes with the Previous Rebbe's blessing on the Eve of Yom Kippur, that G‑d arouse in each of us true teshuvah from the innermost point of the heart.