Audio Roundup Special: R Dovid Gottlieb on Teshuva
by Joel Rich
Continuation of an elul series started last elul on r ybs’s thoughts on tshuva
Rabbi Dovid Gottlieb-Rav Soloveitchik on Teshuva
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures//lecture.cfm/1145526
(7): Appreciating the Different Motivations for
The Rambam uses the language of charata and kabala twice in hilchot tshuva (but reverses the order). R ybs drew a parallel between tshuva and nedarim (which can be undone through petach or charata). Think about these categories as intellect vs emotion.
Sin creates a spiritual illness with the symptoms of yissurim.
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1145717
(8): Mourning Our Lost Selves and the Emotions of Repentance
The symptoms of sin are related to the pain of mourning (of our memory of the event) as the sinner has lost his purity. The disgust with himself drives a natural, emotion of powerful regret (charata).
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1146471
(9): Deciding to Repent Even When the Temptation of Sin Remains
One model of tshuva is feeling revulsion concerning the earlier act, another is not feeling revulsion (you’d like to do it again) but realizing the downside (eg the rambam’s description of tshuva gemura as being in the same situation but resisting the same temptation).
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1146612
(10): The Secret Power that Makes Teshuva Possible
The rambam’s description of HKBH “testifying” to tshuva gemura is about bringing HKBH inside ourselves/our psyche.
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1148129
(11): Appreciating Our Dual Relationship With Hashem
Brit sinai and brit avot represent the natural and personal brit/relationship with HKBH. Tshuva renews our brit (similar to geirut).
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1149655
(12): How To Free Ourselves from Our Fears
One of my favorites – vchen ten pachdcha means our fear of (and absolute loyalty to) HKBH drives out of the fear of any other person/thing. Kol nidrei has the same message – our commitments to HKBH outweigh any other commitment.