Day 36/50: Teshuvah Through Torah

וְאֵ֨לֶּה֙ הַמִּשְׁפָּטִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר תָּשִׂ֖ים לִפְנֵיהֶֽם

And these are the laws that you shall set before them

Learning Torah is not only the key to overcoming all of our nisyonos in the realm of kedushah; it also plays an incredible role in the process of teshuvah. 

It is sometimes claimed that there is no kapparah for aveiros relating to shmiras habris. According to our mesorah, however, this is absolutely untrue. Rav Chaim Volozhiner quotes the teaching of his rebbi, the Vilna Gaon, that all aveiros in the area of shmiras habris can be rectified through immersion in Torah study. And even though the Zohar Hakadosh indicates that there are very stringent requirements for teshuvah for such actions, the Vilna Gaon points out that the Zohar Hakadosh also states explicitly that someone who immerses himself in Torah learning and who engages in proper teshuvah will have no reason for concern.

The Shevet Hamussar states that another powerful way to rectify these misdeeds is to develop chiddushim. Chiddushim are the ”children” we create through our Torah learning. If a person has filled his mind with improper fantasies and has abused the part of his nature that is used to bring children into the world, chas v’shalom, he can repair that damage by filling his mind with the truth of Torah and developing ”offspring” through his Torah learning.

The mekubalim also say that the act of writing divrei Torah is the parallel in kedushah for shmiras habris. The pen resembles the makom habris, and the brain, the place of daas, sends ink flowing from the pen to the paper to create something beautiful and kadosh. The simple act of writing notes during shiur actually enables us to correct our past!

It is incredibly important for us to be aware of the infinite love Hashem has for us and His great desire for us to succeed. Hashem expressed this love by giving us our holy Torah, which is truly a tikkun for all!