A guest post by Rabbi Aaron Fink (my father), Dean of Ateres Bais Yaakov on Monsey NY. Part of a (hopefully) weekly Dvar Torah (Torah “Thought”) series.
I Think I Can
With the Yamim Noraim upon us, our thoughts and deeds turn to preparations for the yemei hadin. This is the season of “Dirshu Hashem bihimatzo.” We seek to reconnect to the Ribbono Shel Olam, Who lovingly awaits us kaviyachol with open arms.
Indeed, He gifted us the mitzvah of teshuva so that we could return to Him with love. It is a priceless gift. However, looking back over a year past the task seems daunting.
Can we really recall our every action? Can we justify our every endeavor from Rosh Hashannah past till present? How do we rectify our mistakes? Where do we begin? Last week’s Torah portion, Parshas Nitzavim offers a clue.
The Torah describes the great chesed of Hashem Yisborach, for making the mitzvah of teshuva so easy. We are taught lo bashamayim hee lamor mi yaaleh lanu hashamyima. The mitzvah of teshuva is not a distant, far away concept far off in the sky that we require a leader to ascend to the heavens and show us the way. Rather, bificha ubilvavcha lasoso — it is in your reach and very near to you; it is in your mouth and your heart to achieve.
Our Rabbis marvel at this unusual expression. It seems to be backward. Shouldn’t Teshuva first begin in the heart and then be expressed by one’s lips? Don’t we have to first feel before we make commitments to change. Why is it reversed? They explain: the most difficult part of the Teshuva process is getting started. Before we begin, we must generate the self confidence that we can truly be better and improve. We must encourage ourselves to take those first few steps down the path of Teshuva. Like the little engine that could, we must tell ourselves, “I think I can—I think can.” In fact, teshuva is not as much about result as it is about effort.
The Rambam in Hilchos Teshuva explains to us how we all have free choice to choose right or r”l wrong. He then states (Hilchos Teshuva 7:1) Ho’eil urishus kol adam nisuna lo k’mo shbearnu yishtadel adam la’asos teshuva – since each person has free choice as we explained each individual should try and do teshuva. The mifarshei HaRambam wonder, if we all have choice then we must do teshuva. Why does the Rambam insert the word “try” into his exhortation that we all repent? Is just trying enough? The answer is absolutely, yes! Teshuva is all about in the effort. Too often, people give up even before they start. They think that change is too difficult or too late. The Rambam’s message and that of thr parsha—if we just try, one step at a time, we can succeed. B’phicha ubilvavcha la’asoso — tell yourself you can and iy”H you will. L’shana tova tikaseiv v’seichaseim.
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