Teshuvah
תשובהReturn and repentance — the soul finding its way back to its Source. Teachings of the Sfas Emes on teshuvah.
272 essays
Noach
Lech Lecha
Vayeira
Chayei Sarah
Toldot
Vayetzei
Vayishlach
Vayeshev
Mikeitz
Chanukah
- Hanukkah Light of the SoulChanukah · תרל"ב · Essay 6
- Divine Love and RenewalChanukah · תרמ"ב - תרמ"ג · Essay 3
- Unity of All Israel in HanukkahChanukah · תרמ"ו · Essay 2
- Hanukkah and Aaron’s Enduring LightChanukah · תרנ"ג · Essay 6
- Love and the Chanukah LightChanukah · תרנ"ד · Essay 6
- Hanukkah as Renewal and Divine PresenceChanukah · תרנ"ח · Essay 2
- Renewal Through TeshuvahChanukah · תרס"ג · Essay 3
Vayigash
- Inner Light Revealed Through SurrenderVayigash · תרל"ב · Essay 1
- Inner Point of TruthVayigash · תרל"ד · Essay 1
- Transforming Sin to MeritVayigash · תרל"ו · Essay 1
- Spiritual Growth Through TrialsVayigash · תרל"ו · Essay 2
- Repentance Through SufferingVayigash · תרל"ז · Essay 3
- Judah Confronts JosephVayigash · תר"מ · Essay 2
- Spiritual Accountability and ShameVayigash · תרנ"ד · Essay 1
- Teshuvah From LoveVayigash · תרנ"ח · Essay 2
Vayechi
Shemot
Mishpatim
Shekalim
- Shekalim awakens inner will and teshuvah me'ahavahShekalim · תרל"א · Essay 1
- Generosity from below arouses Hashem's loveShekalim · תרמ"א · Essay 2
- Half-shekel awakens inner loveShekalim · תרמ"ב · Essay 1
- Chosen and drawn near through teshuvahShekalim · תרמ"ח · Essay 2
- Sin transformed into a wellspring of teshuvahShekalim · תרנ"א · Essay 1
- Shekalim restores the eternal rootShekalim · תרנ"ב · Essay 1
- Half-shekel lifts the head after sinShekalim · תרנ"ה · Essay 1
Terumah
- Three modes of receiving TorahTerumah · תרנ"ב · Essay 1
- A small offering lifts the whole statureTerumah · תרנ"ב · Essay 2
- Torah's garment beyond reach of sinTerumah · תרנ"ה · Essay 1
- The Torah engraved on the heart stays awakeTerumah · תר"ס · Essay 2
- Torah as Moshe's inherited giftTerumah · תרס"ג · Essay 2
Tetzaveh
Purim
- Reaching teshuvah through joy on PurimPurim · תרל"ו · Essay 1
- Purim rectifies naaseh through joyPurim · תרל"ט · Essay 1
- Reaccepting Torah out of lovePurim · תרמ"ה · Essay 1
- Purim teshuvah from fear ripening into lovePurim · תרמ"ו · Essay 4
- Re-accepting the Torah out of love after Amalek's fallPurim · תרמ"ח · Essay 1
- Retrieving holy sparks from impurityPurim · תרמ"ח · Essay 2
- Purim's rebirth and renewed acceptance of kingshipPurim · תרנ"ב · Essay 1
Ki Tisa
Parah
- Teshuvah without sin as return to rootParah · תרל"א · Essay 4
- Humility born from confronting prideParah · תרל"ה · Essay 2
- Inspiration as a springboard to teshuvahParah · תרל"ו · Essay 1
- Purity precedes renewal at year's endParah · תרמ"א · Essay 5
- Purification precedes the renewed choosingParah · תרמ"ו · Essay 2
- The root of unity that purifies impurityParah · תרמ"ו · Essay 3
Vayakhel
Pekudei
Vayikra
Tzav
Shabbat HaGadol
Pesach
Shmini
- Teshuvah heals the world's deficiencyShmini · תרל"ז · Essay 1
- Mourning Nadav and Avihu as a duty for all IsraelShmini · תר"מ · Essay 2
- Teshuvah of Aharon elevates all IsraelShmini · תרמ"א · Essay 2
- Teshuvah's hidden songShmini · תר"נ · Essay 2
- The unblemished eighth and the soul's engraved purityShmini · תרנ"ז · Essay 2
- Holy shame as path to closenessShmini · תרנ"ח · Essay 1
- Three stages: derech eretz, Torah, teshuvahShmini · תרנ"ט · Essay 1
- Two paths to receive TorahShmini · תרס"א · Essay 1
- Teshuvah as a new path into the worldShmini · תרס"א · Essay 2
Tazria
Metzora
Acharei Mot
Kedoshim
Emor
Behar
Bechukotai
Bamidbar
Shavuot
Naso
Beha'alotcha
Shlach
Korach
Elul
- Elul: nullifying ego and elevating the animal soulElul · תרל"ב · Essay 2
- Elul: cleaving to the SourceElul · תר"מ · Essay 1
- Elul: freeing oneself to accept Hashem's kingshipElul · תר"מ · Essay 2
- Elul: self-aroused teshuvah endures foreverElul · תרמ"א · Essay 1
- Elul's avodah of self-nullification and closenessElul · תרמ"ב · Essay 1
- The forty days of favor empower teshuvahElul · תרמ"ג · Essay 1
- Elul: mutual love through bittulElul · תרמ"ד · Essay 1
- Elul: drawing near through earned closenessElul · תרמ"ז - תרמ"ח · Essay 1
- The inner point and the Thirteen AttributesElul · תרמ"ז - תרמ"ח · Essay 3
- Teshuvah of Elul as accepting Hashem's yokeElul · תרנ"ז · Essay 1
- The reciprocal awakening of Elul teshuvahElul · תרנ"ט · Essay 1
- Elul's awakening from below and the covenant of the second luchosElul · תרס"א · Essay 1
Rosh Hashanah
- Ten days of teshuvah renew creationRosh Hashanah · תרל"ב · Essay 6
- Rosh Hashanah's concealed joyRosh Hashanah · תרל"ה · Essay 1
- Why no Hallel on Rosh HashanahRosh Hashanah · תרל"ו · Essay 3
- Binding renewal to its concealed rootRosh Hashanah · תרל"ז · Essay 2
- Teshuvah restores Creation's original unityRosh Hashanah · תרמ"ב · Essay 2
- Aleinu and perfecting the worldRosh Hashanah · תרמ"ד · Essay 5
- Divine seeing renews the world for TorahRosh Hashanah · תרמ"ד · Essay 6
- Humility turns the remnant into the beginningRosh Hashanah · תרמ"ח - תרמ"ט · Essay 1
- Rosh Hashanah as release and freedomRosh Hashanah · תרמ"ח - תרמ"ט · Essay 4
- Yearly renewal of teshuvah and TorahRosh Hashanah · תר"ן · Essay 3
- Shofar restores the broken inner voiceRosh Hashanah · תרנ"א · Essay 3
- Rosh Hashanah, inner life, and teshuvahRosh Hashanah · תרנ"ז · Essay 2
- Unconditional love of the neshamahRosh Hashanah · תרנ"ז · Essay 3
- Shofar and teshuvah reveal Divine mercyRosh Hashanah · תרנ"ח · Essay 2
- The Shofar, the Straight Path, and the AvosRosh Hashanah · תרס"ב · Essay 4
- Teshuvah regrasps the Tree of LifeRosh Hashanah · תרס"ד · Essay 4
- Teshuvah's shofar reveals inner light in darknessRosh Hashanah · תרס"ה · Essay 3
Shabbat Shuva
- The pure inner point and Shabbos teshuvahShabbat Shuva · תרל"ד · Essay 2
- Teshuvah from fear versus loveShabbat Shuva · תרל"ד · Essay 3
- Teshuvah as new creation through bittulShabbat Shuva · תרל"ה · Essay 2
- Awe and love leave an imprint that awakens teshuvahShabbat Shuva · תרל"ו · Essay 1
- Shabbos opens the gate weekday knocking seeksShabbat Shuva · תרל"ז · Essay 2
- Teshuvah from fear leading to loveShabbat Shuva · תרל"ז · Essay 4
- The two teshuvos of fear and loveShabbat Shuva · תרל"ח · Essay 3
- Hashem as witness to hidden teshuvahShabbat Shuva · תרל"ח · Essay 4
- Teshuvah measured against intentShabbat Shuva · תרל"ח · Essay 5
- The unquenchable inner point and teshuvahShabbat Shuva · תרל"ט · Essay 2
- Teshuvah for future pure serviceShabbat Shuva · תרל"ט · Essay 3
- Teshuvah reawakens innate Divine loveShabbat Shuva · תרל"ט · Essay 4
- Teshuvah as ascent to one's rootShabbat Shuva · תר"מ · Essay 2
- Two modes of teshuvah, fear and loveShabbat Shuva · תרמ"א · Essay 1
- Teshuvah reveals the hidden good above natureShabbat Shuva · תרמ"ד · Essay 2
- Teshuvah from love turns sins to meritsShabbat Shuva · תרמ"ד · Essay 3
- Two paths of teshuvah: children and servantsShabbat Shuva · תרמ"ה · Essay 2
- Teshuvah through da'as, aided by ShabbosShabbat Shuva · תרמ"ז · Essay 1
- Teshuvah uncovers the Torah within every JewShabbat Shuva · תרמ"ז · Essay 2
- The Ten Days reveal teshuvah's hidden gateShabbat Shuva · תרמ"ח · Essay 1
- Teshuvah as fulfilling one's missionShabbat Shuva · תרנ"א · Essay 1
- Shabbos as teshuvah and bittulShabbat Shuva · תרנ"א · Essay 2
- Preemptive teshuvah over thoughts saves from sinShabbat Shuva · תרנ"א · Essay 3
- Teshuvah reawakens the merit of the AvosShabbat Shuva · תרנ"ב · Essay 1
- Teshuvah's ever-open gates and the heartShabbat Shuva · תרנ"ב · Essay 2
- Ascending Levels of TeshuvahShabbat Shuva · תרנ"ג · Essay 1
- Living Name revealed in the days of teshuvahShabbat Shuva · תרנ"ד · Essay 2
- Shabbos empowers reciprocal teshuvahShabbat Shuva · תרנ"ד · Essay 3
- Hashem's Nearness Through TeshuvahShabbat Shuva · תרנ"ה · Essay 1
- Extracting good from within sinShabbat Shuva · תרנ"ה · Essay 2
- Teshuvah of the soul through inner shame on ShabbosShabbat Shuva · תרנ"ח · Essay 1
- Shabbos draws from above to aid teshuvahShabbat Shuva · תרנ"ח · Essay 2
- Teshuvah through the power of TorahShabbat Shuva · תר"ס · Essay 1
- Remembering Shabbos as the year's rectificationShabbat Shuva · תר"ס · Essay 2
- Shabbos as testimony and the teshuvah of remembranceShabbat Shuva · תרס"א · Essay 1
- Emunah reveals the Divine spark withinShabbat Shuva · תרס"ב · Essay 1
- Teshuvah renews the Ten Utterances of creationShabbat Shuva · תרס"ב · Essay 2
- Shofar breaks the heart to teshuvahShabbat Shuva · תרס"ב · Essay 3
- Emunah in Hashem's Hidden Shade During GalusShabbat Shuva · תרס"ב · Essay 4
- Teshuvah awakens Hashem's unconditional loveShabbat Shuva · תרס"ג · Essay 2
- Teshuvah renews the Ten Dibros within usShabbat Shuva · תרס"ה · Essay 1
Yom Kippur
- Yom Kippur as a day above natureYom Kippur · תרמ"ד · Essay 1
- Two luchos: paths of holiness and purityYom Kippur · תרמ"ה · Essay 1
- Teshuvah Turns Sins into Inadvertent OnesYom Kippur · תרמ"ה · Essay 2
- Teshuvah returns sin to its rootYom Kippur · תרמ"ה · Essay 3
- Teshuvah draws purity from the upper watersYom Kippur · תרמ"ז - תרמ"ח · Essay 1
- Drawing near to Hashem erases sinYom Kippur · תרמ"ז - תרמ"ח · Essay 2
- Yom Kippur strips away physicality to reveal the inner selfYom Kippur · תרמ"ט · Essay 1
- Yom Kippur saves the average personYom Kippur · תרמ"ט · Essay 2
- Din of Rosh Hashanah, chesed of Yom KippurYom Kippur · תרמ"ט · Essay 3
- Yom Kippur unity and ahavas YisraelYom Kippur · תרנ"א · Essay 1
- Joyful avodah seals the kapparahYom Kippur · תרנ"א · Essay 2
- Yom Kippur as Root of All ShabbososYom Kippur · תרנ"ג · Essay 1
- Engraving Torah on the purified heartYom Kippur · תרנ"ה · Essay 1
- Yom Kippur, milah, and the Jew's essential holinessYom Kippur · תרנ"ו · Essay 1
- Yom Kippur purifies through judgment itselfYom Kippur · תרנ"ו · Essay 4
- Teshuvah and the second Luchos purify IsraelYom Kippur · תרס"ב · Essay 1
- Yom Kippur forgiveness rekindles the desert meritYom Kippur · תרס"ג · Essay 1
Sukkot
- Choosing to surrender free willSukkot · תרל"ה · Essay 2
- The sukkah as testimony to true judgmentSukkot · תרל"ה · Essay 3
- Heart, soul, might across the Yamim NoraimSukkot · תרל"ה · Essay 8
- Sukkah as a place given to ba'alei teshuvahSukkot · תרל"ו · Essay 1
- Sukkos and receiving honor safelySukkot · תרל"ו · Essay 3
- Teshuvah transcends human effortSukkot · תרל"ז · Essay 6
- Joy awakened through the longing of galusSukkot · תרל"ז · Essay 12
- Joy of Sukkos follows purification of the heartSukkot · תרל"ח · Essay 4
- Sukkos as the reward of teshuvahSukkot · תרל"ט · Essay 2
- Teshuvah returns Bnei Yisrael to their rootSukkot · תר"מ · Essay 5
- Sukkos: Hashem grants renewed joy and desireSukkot · תרמ"א · Essay 4
- Sukkos: peace, ingathering, and the joy of TorahSukkot · תרמ"א · Essay 6
- Baalei teshuvah enter the innermost placeSukkot · תרמ"ב · Essay 2
- Teshuvah draws down the sukkah's radianceSukkot · תרמ"ד · Essay 1
- Torah draws Yisrael close even after sinSukkot · תרמ"ד · Essay 11
- Teshuvah for all, tefillah for Bnei Yisrael aloneSukkot · תרמ"ו · Essay 7
- Simchas Torah as the Torah of TeshuvahSukkot · תרמ"ז · Essay 5
- Unity after Yom Kippur lets us follow HashemSukkot · תרמ"ח · Essay 1
- Sukkos: gathering holy sparks into one garmentSukkot · תרמ"ח · Essay 4
- Teshuvah lifts higher than before the sinSukkot · תרמ"ט · Essay 3
- Internalizing the Sukkah’s supernatural lightSukkot · תרנ"א · Essay 2
- Sukkos renews the Ruach after Yom KippurSukkot · תרנ"א · Essay 3
- Aharon's teshuvah and the Clouds of GlorySukkot · תרנ"א · Essay 7
- Sukkah of bittul, Shemini Atzeres of receivingSukkot · תרנ"א · Essay 12
- The sukkah as the sojourner's teshuvahSukkot · תרנ"ב · Essay 1
- Sukkos, teshuvah, and the inner wellspringSukkot · תרנ"ב · Essay 4
- Tishrei's Hanhagah Above ReckoningSukkot · תרנ"ב · Essay 5
- Sukkah: rising above nature toward HashemSukkot · תרנ"ד ותרנ"ו · Essay 1
- Light from darkness and chesed refined from dinSukkot · תרנ"ד ותרנ"ו · Essay 5
- Sukkah as renewal of the true human formSukkot · תרנ"ה · Essay 1
- Sukkos as a foretaste of future joySukkot · תרנ"ז · Essay 2
- Sukkos restores the soul through loveSukkot · תרנ"ז · Essay 3
- Sukkah's peace: near and far shalomSukkot · תרנ"ח · Essay 2
- Sukkos renews the soul as a new creationSukkot · תרנ"ח · Essay 3
- The Lulav: Yearning and Deveikus Like AharonSukkot · תרנ"ח · Essay 4
- Purified uprightness and the joy of SukkosSukkot · תרס"ב · Essay 2
- Complete teshuvah lishmah on SukkosSukkot · תרס"ב · Essay 3
- The Beloved Impermanence of the SukkahSukkot · תרס"ב · Essay 5
- Taking the good after purificationSukkot · תרס"ג · Essay 5
- The willow's cry for salvationSukkot · תרס"ג · Essay 7
- Joy of the Chag from the soul's lightSukkot · תרס"ד · Essay 3