The last of the Hashem's thirteen attributes is
"nakeh lo y'nakeh" (Shemos 34, 7). The literal
translation, "And cleanses, He does not cleanse," is
quite obscure, and therefore the Targum adds a few
words to elucidate the pasuk: "And He will cleanse
those who return to the Torah, and He will not cleanse
those who do not return to the Torah."
Rav Wolbe (Alei Shur vol. I pg. 237) notes
that the Targum is introducing a new concept of
teshuva. The prevalent perception of teshuva is not,
"returning to the Torah"; rather returning to Hashem.
The truth is that we also find this idea of returning
to the Torah in Shemoneh Esrei. In the fourth bracha
we ask Hashem, "Return us, our Father, to Your Torah."
Why is the emphasis placed on returning to the Torah,
and not on returning to Hashem?
The answer is that all aveiros are rooted
in a laxity in the area of limud hatorah. Each
individual must decide the exact area in which he was
lax. One's aveiros might be attributed to a disregard
for his fixed times for Torah study or to his learning
without the proper depth. Maybe he could have learned
more but opted to settle for less, or perhaps he
neglected his obligations because he failed to review
what he learned. Perhaps he didn't take the time to
study mussar, or even if he did, maybe he didn't
internalize what he saw in the mussar sefer. Whatever
the case may be, had one not slacked off in his Torah
study, he would not have sinned. Hence, teshuva must
entail returning to the proper study of Torah.
This concept can be applied in a very practical way.
Everyone must study the laws that apply to his daily
life. We all must know the laws of Shabbos and
kashrus. Additionally, the Mishna Berurah writes that
one must study mussar every day. Learning halachos and
mussar arms one with knowledge of what's permissible
and what's forbidden and the ability to keep his
yetzer hara in check. Why not try learning some
hilchos Shabbos by the Shabbos table? Maybe take a
thought from the Mesillas Yesharim and discuss it over
lunch. An investment in Torah is not only a great
mitzvah in and of itself; it is also a means of
facilitating the mitzvah of teshuva.
Important Numbers
