The focus of the days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur is Teshuvah (return or repentance). This time-period in fact is referred to as 'The Ten Days of Teshuvah.' During this time, we recite the "Avinu Malkeinu" prayer, requesting:

"Our Father our King! Return us in complete Teshuvah before You."

What kind of Teshuvah is sh'leimah – full and complete?

Healing the Source

We can understand this phrase better in light of the request immediately following: "Our Father our King! Send complete healing to the sick of Your people." 

What is 'complete healing'? Often we are only able to treat the external symptoms of a patient's illness. The true source of the illness, however, remains unknown or is untreatable. Such a treatment is only a partial healing. When we plead for complete healing, we are praying that the source of the illness be discovered and cured. Such a comprehensive treatment results in the full restoration of the patient's health.

The same concept holds true for Teshuvah. If we address a particular fault, we are really dealing with the symptoms of a larger problem. Correcting a specific sin is only partial Teshuvah. When we ask for God's help in attaining complete Teshuvah, we seek a comprehensive Teshuvah that corrects the root source of our various sins and character flaws. Such a complete Teshuvah will restore our spiritual wholeness.

Elevated Teshuvah

In his book Orot HaTeshuvah (15:6), Rav Kook described the relationship between the elevated Teshuvah of thought and the lower, practical Teshuvah:

"The elevated form of Teshuvah — based on a holy enlightenment and an expanding perception of delight in God — is the source and foundation for the lower Teshuvah that corrects deeds and refines traits."

(adapted from Mo'adei HaRe'iyah p. 66)

Copyright © 2006 by Chanan Morrison