Soul Sync

This week's parsha, Nitzavim, is always read on the Shabbos before Rosh Hashana. There are so many things about this parsha that connect to Rosh Hashana. Nitzavim speaks of our commitment to Hashem, His Torah and Mitzvahs. It teaches about Teshuva, repentance, and tells of our return to Hashem in this dark exile. How Hashem will gather us from the farthest places. It is clearly talking about us and our time, as we sit on the threshold of Moshiach's coming.

Being that the parsha speaks about Teshuva as the prelude to the in-gathering of the exiles, and being that we want it to happen already, lets talk about Teshuva.

Teshuva means "return to Hashem". On a basic level this means, to regret your way, ask for forgiveness and get back on Hashem's path.

For a person who has broken trust and wants to once again be trusted, being remorseful and saying "I'm sorry" is not enough. He needs to reach higher, find a greater level of character and prove himself worthy.

However Teshuva could be so much more. Even the holiest of people can tap in to the power of Teshuva.

The verse says "and you will return until Hashem your G-D".

What does "until" mean? When you say return, it implies, going back to a place or situation you were in before. What place are we speaking of here?

This takes us to a whole new level of Teshuva, to a place where we are in perfect harmony with Hashem.

Each of us have a Neshama, a piece of Hashem inside of us. It is our essence. Over time we could become so involved in the physical, mundane world that our Neshama gets forgotten. Even Mitzvahs could be done out of habit, void of meaning.

Teshuva is connecting to your G-dly essence, your Neshama. It is a journey to your core, every step you take inward, brings clarity. You see how you are one with Hashem, and that He loves you because you are part of Him. When you connect at this level, the lower levels of Teshuva are automatic. How could you remain the same after connecting so deeply? Regret, remorse and bitterness over your previous state will overtake you, and you become closer to Hashem.

Being that our Neshama is infinite, there is always deeper/higher levels to connect to. Through Teshuva even a Tzadik can find new levels of G-dlyness to connect to.

Your essence it already there, your Neshama has always been at the highest level. You now have to "return until Hashem" return to where your Neshama is one with Hashem. Since Hashem is infinite so is our journey, giving us the ability to get ever closer.

Suffering also brings you closer to Hashem. We have suffered enough. Perhaps Hashem wants our closeness to come from our own initiative.

Being a father and a husband, I love my family to no end, like any father and husband would, and still, there is great pleasure when the love and closeness from my family, is from their own initiative.

In preparation for Rosh Hashana, let us take the initiative a get closer to Hashem. May He, with his fatherly love, send Moshiach and gather the exiles and bring us home.

May you be inscribed and sealed for a good and sweet year.