Elul: Charata as the Key to Teshuva
- In Other series
- Drasha
AI summary (may contain mistakes)
How can charata undo an aveira when the deed, even a dead body, is still there? The Mesilas Yesharim learns from hataras nedarim that uprooting the will is like uprooting the act. An act done without ratzon is not attributable to a person, as with a sleeper or one forced, so teshuva cuts the deed off from him. Selichos means pleading for forgiveness, which calls for a solemn tone, not a concert.
Key points
- A classic sefer on teshuva counts charata, remorse, as the first ikkar of teshuva.
- A teaching in Bava Kamma frees a sleeper who breaks vessels set down after he lay down.
- The Rambam holds one forced at gunpoint to kill is an oness, not chayav misa.
- The Mesilas Yesharim learns from hataras nedarim that charata reaches back and undoes a past deed.
- Teshuva uproots the original ratzon, so the deed remains but is no longer the person's.
