There's Always Hope

"If a person has acted improperly and wants to take shelter beneath the "Wings of the Shechinah"... I will show him the way to proceed. On the day that you lift your heart to return to Hashem, throw off all of your aveirot as if they never were. Consider yourself as a newborn child, having neither merit nor culpability. Today is the beginning of your actions. Today you will reflect on all of your ways... This outlook will facilitate your complete return to Hashem because you will be unburdened from the weight of all of your aveirot. Do not be hindered by thoughts that hold you back from returning to Hashem. You might feel, "How can I have the nerve to return to Hashem, after I acted so inappropriately so many times? How can I come before Hashem? I feel embarrassed, like a thief who was caught in the act of stealing. ... How can I observe His mitzvot?" Do not allow these negative thoughts to enter your heart! These feelings of despair are the influence of the yetzer hara. Rather, know that the arms of our Merciful Creator are always open to welcome those that return to Him. (Yesod HaTeshuvah)..........."


I thought the process to be an important, unknown yesod for many.... First forsaking the evil and only then charata


"If one, however, continues in the way of wrong and each day grows more confirmed in his sin, repeats his wrong and frequently turns away in his course, persists in his love of the evil and sets before himself the stumbling block of his sin, namely, lust and inclination, his desire and aspiration being that none of his evil intentions go unrealized, the beginning of this man's repentance is to forsake his evil ways and thoughts and to take it upon himself not to sin again. After this, he must regret his corrupt acts and return to G-d... " (pg 17)