The Rambam says redemption comes through teshuvah, but teshuvah does not only mean regret.

Listen to this articleSpeed Ready

It means returning to relationship with the Creator, until life itself becomes a conversation with Him (you can even begin with saying you’re angry at Him).

How Does a Relationship With the Creator Begin?

The Alter Rebbe explains that a relationship with the Creator begins when awe is felt.

Awe begins with fear and wonder: fear because our choices truly matter before Him, and wonder because the Infinite Creator is present and desires a relationship with human beings.

What Turns Awe Into Love?

That awe can cause love to be felt if you trust He is good.

Love wants greater closeness, and the intimacy can contain sadness because the Creator’s goodness is not yet as revealed in us and in the world as it could be.

For the Jewish people to return, we have to learn to trust that the Creator is good, because without trust in His goodness, we are not truly noticing Him; we are living with an opinion about Him, not in relationship with Him.

How Do We Return to Relationship With the Creator?

The Lubavitcher Rebbe described returning to relationship as: demand [with chutzpah] more revealed goodness from the Creator while developing the mindset that "I'm here to be a channel for goodness towards my self and others."

“Ultimately, Israel will repent towards the end of her exile and, immediately, she will be redeemed” - Rambam

___________________

Related guides:

Why is suffering built into creation? You can have good arguments and still struggle with fear, shame, or people-pleasing

Awe deepens through expressing appreciation.

"The Rambam says redemption comes through the Teshuvah of Israel. But the Teshuvah only happens when the Jewish people trust the Creator's goodness enough to return to relationship with him."

Explore the NextSelf Blog. Start with this post explaining the world of souls, and what does it mean to be light? And my Youtube. Content is published to this facebook first and a few days later, to the blog.

The blog lists all the difference patterns to study, understanding patterns is how one can develop 'Daas' [felt knowing].
Content does not provide medical services or professional counseling, and it is not a substitute for professional medical care.

Questions people ask

What does teshuvah really mean?

Teshuvah means more than feeling regret. The Rambam teaches that redemption comes through teshuvah, and teshuvah here means returning to relationship with the Creator, until everyday life becomes a real conversation with Him. You can even begin that conversation by telling Him you are angry at Him.

Why does awe include both fear and wonder?

The Alter Rebbe teaches that a relationship with the Creator begins when awe is felt. Awe has two parts: fear, because our choices truly matter before Him, and wonder, because the Infinite Creator is present and desires a relationship with human beings.

Why does love for the Creator include sadness?

Awe can grow into love once you trust that the Creator is good, and love wants greater closeness. That closeness can carry sadness, because His goodness is not yet as revealed in us or in the world as it could be. Feeling that sadness safely is part of the intimacy itself.

What did the Lubavitcher Rebbe teach about returning to relationship with the Creator?

The Lubavitcher Rebbe described returning as demanding, with chutzpah, more revealed goodness from the Creator, while building the mindset that you are here to be a channel for goodness toward yourself and others. It rests on trust: without trusting He is good, we stop truly noticing Him and live with an opinion about Him instead.

Comments

Comments are reviewed before they appear. Your email is never published.