Week 5: Response from
Rabbi Paula Winnig
Rav Kook speaks of two types of Teshuvah, sudden and gradual. The sudden Teshuvah comes according to Rav Kook, when you fully recognize "the ugliness and evil of sin, and are transformed into a new being." This connection comes from an intensely spontaneous spiritual influence that transforms you and lifts you to a higher awareness. While Rav Kook teaches that this is a higher form of Teshuvah, to which we would all naturally want to attain, his understanding of gradual Teshuvah, I believe, is a more realistic and helpful view of the processes required to attain a true return to a purer life, more committed to bringing goodness, blessing and peace to our world which would ultimately also lead to a more intense awareness of the Divine presence.

We all live in a world of competing influences. We know how we should behave in our human, earthly relationships, yet we so often fail to follow the best path. We know that we should be concerned about our environment, that we should care to help those in need, that we should offer the best of ourselves in all that we do; yet we regularly fall short in fulfilling our moral and ethical obligations. Doing the right thing is especially difficult when it feels as if immorality and unethical behavior appears to be better rewarded in our world. We all know that there are tax cheats and people who practice unethical business practices who are financially prosperous and are honored for their generosity with their unethically acquired funds. But of course we also know, that doing good, doing what is morally expected of us, opens our souls to richer rewards than can be offered us through large bank accounts and public acclaim. While it would be nice to be promised the type of total spiritual awareness Rav Kook sees is possible through sudden Teshuvah, most of us will find that by gradually working through our responsibilities and commitments, we will attain a more lasting and full understanding of ourselves and our world and our God. Gradual Teshuvah also allows us to be transformed in "new beings" when we actively search for God through our honest repentance. Through constant reexamination of our deeper inclinations and the formation of a lasting moral compass, that is through gradual Teshuvah, we will become more fully aware of how we relate to our world daily. This gradual, ongoing process will help guide us to more fully develop our human and divine relationships. As we imbue our consciousness with the need to constantly examine our physical and our spiritual activities, we are more likely to be able to feel the Divine Spark of God's presence within us. The challenge we face during this period of repentance and throughout all our days is to ignite our souls through the Divine Spark and spread its inspiration and goodness throughout all our days.

Just as regular physical exercise allows us to slowly attain the fitness and shape we desire for our bodies, so too does gradual, regular self-examination lead us to the repentance we seek and the presence of God we desire. As we gradually participate in the process of Teshuvah may our hearts open wide to feel and absorb the splendor and glory of those who share God's world with us. Though repentance naturally has us focus on the negative behaviors we need to change, Teshuvah should also help us honor the many ways we have achieved the goodness and decency we expect of ourselves. As Rav Kook teaches: "Uprightness and goodness is within you as well; it arises from your being in harmony with everything." May these final days of Elul help us find the balance in our lives that will lead us to a year of harmony and peace.

Temple Sinai of Long Island -- Lawrence, New York