Teshuvah Tefillah Tzedakah vs Repentance Prayer Charity

Dedicated By Dr. Ezra and Lauren Kest 
In honor of our children who teach us how to love, listen and be heard.  They should be blessed to find, see and recognize their zivuggim at the right time and always listen well, be heard and feel listened to.  

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The Ten Days of Teshuvah begin with Rosh Hashanah we ask for ourselves and our families blessing for the new year and we are certain that Hashem will grant them. It ends with Yom Kippur when our blessing is sealed in the book of life. As long as we haven't been sealed in the book of life, as long as Yom Kippur hasn't come to an end, we could still achieve more and more blessing from Hashem Who has infinite blessing. And the seven days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur is just for that, for accumulating blessing for the new year. 

How do we gain blessing? As we read in the Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, it is through Teshuva, Tefillah and Tzedakah. 

Teshuva is usually translated as repentance, Tefila as prayer and Tzedakah as charity, but they are not the right translation and for some it is actually the opposite of the meaning of the word.

Teshuva vs Repentance 

Repentance means to regret the person who you are and change to become a new person. The person you were was no good, and you are going to go against your nature to create a new you. 

Teshuva is the diametric opposite of repentance. Teshuva means to return, which means to go back to your essential self, which was always good. It is a journey inward, not to change entirely, but  to be true to who you really are, your essence, which is truly beautiful. 

Teshuva is easier than repentance, because it isn't a complete change into a new person, which is very difficult, rather a small turn to be the person you are. 

That is why everyone can do teshuva, even the most righteous person, because our essence is infinite, and there is always a deeper level of essence to reach for.

Tefila vs Prayer 

Prayer means to make a request from Hashem. So when there is no need, when everything is just grand, there is no need for prayer. 

Tefila means to connect, it is building, maintaining and refreshing our relationship with Hashem. Therefore we do it even when we don't need anything. Since Hashem is infinite, we can always take our relationship with Him deeper. That is why even the biggest Tzadik davens with so much fervor, because he is constantly taking his relationship with Hashem higher and higher, deeper and deeper. 

Tzedaka vs Charity 

Charity means that you are a good person, and you give to a person or a cause. The person or cause haven't earned it, nor do they deserve it, it is only out of the goodness of your heart that you are moved and you give. 

Tzedaka means that it is the just thing to do, you are obligated to give it to the person for two reasons. 

First, because you know that the money is not yours, it is just that Hashem gave it to you specifically to give that person. 

Second, because you know that you have to rely on Hashem to give to you even though He surely doesn't owe you anything. Therefore you have to do the same, you have to give to the poor person, even though you don't owe him. When you act that way, you evoke in Hashem to do the same for you. And when you give more than you can, you can ask of Hashem that He gives to you more than is coming to you. 

This is especially true when you give to synagogues and Torah institutions, if you give and you give more than your ability, then you can rightfully say to Hashem, "I give more than I can to what You want, give more than what is coming to me, to what I want." Whether it be health, nachas or success. 

Through Teshuva, Tefillah and Tzedakah, we will surely be granted Hashem's overflowing blessings for a year of happiness and good health, nachas and shalom bayis, abundance and success.