(א) בְּרֵאשִׁ֖ית בָּרָ֣א אֱלֹהִ֑ים אֵ֥ת הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וְאֵ֥ת הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (ב) וְהָאָ֗רֶץ הָיְתָ֥ה תֹ֙הוּ֙ וָבֹ֔הוּ וְחֹ֖שֶׁךְ עַל־פְּנֵ֣י תְה֑וֹם וְר֣וּחַ אֱלֹהִ֔ים מְרַחֶ֖פֶת עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הַמָּֽיִם׃
והא תניא שבעה דברים נבראו קודם שנברא העולם ואלו הן תורה ותשובה וגן עדן וגיהנם וכסא הכבוד ובית המקדש ושמו של משיח...
תשובה דכתיב בטרם הרים ילדו וכתיב תשב אנוש עד דכא ותאמר שובו בני אדם...
Wasn’t it taught in a baraita: Seven phenomena were created before the world was created, and they are: Torah, and repentance, and the Garden of Eden, and Gehenna, and the Throne of Glory, and the Temple, and the name of Messiah...
Repentance was created before the world was created, as it is written: “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God,” and it is written immediately afterward: “You return man to contrition; and You say: Repent, children of man” (Psalms 90:2–3)...
Reflection Questions:
Why might something be created before the world was created?
If the beginning was a kind of primordial chaos or emptiness, why these 7 things first?
Can you find a relationship among the seven things?
What are the possible implications of Teshuva being created before the world was created?
What would you add to this list of pre-creation creations?
(א) אֵי זוֹ הִיא תְּשׁוּבָה גְּמוּרָה?
זֶה שֶׁבָּא לְיָדוֹ דָּבָר שֶׁעָבַר בּוֹ וְאֶפְשָׁר בְּיָדוֹ לַעֲשׂוֹתוֹ וּפֵרַשׁ וְלֹא עָשָׂה מִפְּנֵי הַתְּשׁוּבָה. לֹא מִיִּרְאָה וְלֹא מִכִּשְׁלוֹן כֹּחַ...
(ב) וּמַה הִיא הַתְּשׁוּבָה?
הוּא שֶׁיַּעֲזֹב הַחוֹטֵא חֶטְאוֹ וִיסִירוֹ מִמַּחֲשַׁבְתּוֹ וְיִגְמֹר בְּלִבּוֹ שֶׁלֹּא יַעֲשֵׂהוּ עוֹד ...
וְצָרִיךְ לְהִתְוַדּוֹת בִּשְׂפָתָיו וְלוֹמַר עִנְיָנוֹת אֵלּוּ שֶׁגָּמַר בְּלִבּוֹ:
(1) What constitutes complete teshuvah? A person who confronts the same situation in which they erred when they had the potential to commit the error again, and nevertheless abstains and does not commit it because of their teshuvah alone, and not because of fear or lack of strength.
(2) What constitutes Teshuvah?
A person should abandon their errors, remove them from their thoughts, resolve in their hearts never to commit them again…they must verbally confess and state these matters which they resolved in their hearts.
Discussion Questions:
Articulate in your own words the process of teshuva according to the Rambam.
Why do you think a verbal confession is a necessary step?
When in your life have you done complete teshuva, as the Rambam describes?
What is your personal definition of teshuvah?
(א) רְשׁוּת לְכָל אָדָם נְתוּנָה. אִם רָצָה לְהַטּוֹת עַצְמוֹ לְדֶרֶךְ טוֹבָה וְלִהְיוֹת צַדִּיק הָרְשׁוּת בְּיָדוֹ. וְאִם רָצָה לְהַטּוֹת עַצְמוֹ לְדֶרֶךְ רָעָה וְלִהְיוֹת רָשָׁע הָרְשׁוּת בְּיָדוֹ.
Freewill is granted to all people. If one desires, they can turn to the path of good and be righteous. Should they desire to turn to the path of evil and be wicked, the choice is theirs.
אָמְרוּ חֲכָמִים מָקוֹם שֶׁבַּעֲלֵי תְּשׁוּבָה עוֹמְדִין אֵין צַדִּיקִים גְּמוּרִין יְכוֹלִין לַעֲמֹד בּוֹ. כְּלוֹמַר מַעֲלָתָן גְּדוֹלָה מִמַּעֲלַת אֵלּוּ שֶׁלֹּא חָטְאוּ מֵעוֹלָם מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהֵן כּוֹבְשִׁים יִצְרָם יוֹתֵר מֵהֶם:
Our sages say that someone who has done teshuvah is ultimately more righteous, and closer to God, than someone who is righteous without having done teshuvah.
Discussion Questions:
What is it about teshuvah that makes a person closer to God/Holiness?
Do you believe we really have complete control over the way we act?
If so, why don't we always act righteously?
Revisit the question: Why was teshuvah created before the world was created?