By Rabbi Dovid Markel
This Shabbat is generally referred to as Shabbat Shuva, after the haftarah which discusses repentance.
The Haftara begins with the words of Hosea (14:2): “Return, O Israel, to the Lord your G-d, for you have stumbled in your iniquity.”
In the works of Chassidus (Shuva Yisroel 5741) an interesting question is asked: The Jewish people are referred to by two names, Israel and Jacob. Here the verse employs the name Israel, which was given because (Bereishit 32:29) “you have commanding power with [an angel of] G-d and with men, and you have prevailed.”
The name Israel is expressive of overcoming all concealment and negativity—and is expressive of the G-dly service of a Tzadik. What sin then, can such an individual have?
While the discourse explains the matter at great length, the essential answer postulated there is that the repentance that such an individual must do it to be completely nullified before G-d—realizing that in essence all that there is expresses the depth of G-d.
This is what is expressed in the statement “to the Lord your G-d.” One must repent until the level of Elokim (Lord) is understood that it is truly G-d (Havaya).
While it would seem that this repentance is only applicable to a Tzadik, in truth this is the repentance that is demanded from each individual. At the heart of sin, is the supposition that there is something separate from G-d.
Transforming such a mindset to realize the reality that G-d is all, is the ultimate reversal of all sin. So indeed, there is no axiomatic difference between the repentance of the greatest Tzadik and the lowest of the low.
Each and every one of us must constantly ask ourselves two questions: Are we giving it our all and are we truly one with G-d?
When indeed we truly become permeated with this reality we will merit to the time when the whole universe will see the unity of G-d—with the coming of Moshiach, Now!
