by Rabbi Yaakov Feldman | Nov 22, 2015 | Beginner
Having finished offering the 20 principles of teshuva (returning to G-d), Rabbeinu Yonah now completes the first gate of “The Gates of Repentance” by presenting us with a list of things that hinder teshuva. It’s important to note that we’re...
by Rabbi Yaakov Feldman | Nov 22, 2015 | Beginner
We begin our exciting journey together through the classics of Mussar [ethical development] literature… in search of spiritual excellence. Our first work is “The Gates of Repentance”, by the great and holy Rabbeinu Yonah. From here, with G-d’s...
by Rabbi Yaakov Feldman | Nov 22, 2015 | Beginner
Twentieth Principle of Teshuva: TURNING OTHERS AWAY FROM SIN AS MUCH AS YOU CAN We come now to the last principle of teshuva, and nearly to the end of the first of four gates. Significantly, this one focuses on the effects our having bettered ourselves could have on...
by Rabbi Yaakov Feldman | Nov 22, 2015 | Beginner
The Twelfth Principle of Teshuva: EXAMINING, KNOWING, AND RECOGNIZING THE SERIOUSNESS OF EACH SIN This principle provides us with a unique opportunity to explain our concept of “spiritual excellence”. Simply because it uses terms that are so off-putting to...
by Rabbi Yaakov Feldman | Nov 22, 2015 | Beginner
The Fifth Principle of Teshuva: WORRYING This week we delve further into the psychology of the righteous. The righteous are a “misunderstood minority” on many, many levels. For one thing, they’re taken to be mythical entities from the distant past,...