5787/2026
Rashi famously comments on the Pasuk in Sefer Yeshayahu 57:19, Shalom Shalom LaRachok VeHakarov Amar Hashem,” “Hashem extends peace to those who are far and those who are near”. He explains that LaRachok, those who are “far”, refer to people who have been frum from birth. They are accustomed to Torah U’Mitzvot. They grew up in an environment where Torah and Mitzvot were the natural way of life. Yet, Rashi calls them Rechokim rather than HaKerovim. Why?
HaKerovim, Rashi explains, are the Ba’alei Teshuva, “SheNitkarvu Eilai MeiChadash,” the people that are chasing Hashem and being “Chozer BeTeshuva,” those people are much, much closer. Rashi (Yoma 86) comments on the Pasuk of “Shuvu Banim Elai,” “Return, children, to me”. Who are considered the Banim of HaKadosh Baruch Hu? The Ba’alei Teshuva.
A person can sin. A person can stumble.“Sheva Yipol Tzaddik VaYakom,” “A righteous person falls seven times and gets back up” (Mishlei 24:16). Falling is part of being human. “HaTorah Lo Nitnah LeMalachei HaShareit,” “The Torah was not given to ministering angels” (Berachot 25b). HaKadosh Baruch Hu gave us the Torah, knowing we will stumble and fail. That is why Rashi points out very clearly that the people who are closest to Hashem are the Ba’alei Teshuva.
Rashi points out in Yoma that Teshuva enables us to develop an authentic, father-son relationship, not just A relationship that exists because of the Mitzvot. Rashi in Avodah Zarah develops this idea even further. When a person struggles with his Shemoneh Esrei, which Bracha should he focus on? Atah Chonein LaAdam Da’at. If someone is struggling to learn, concentrate, or succeed in Talmud Torah, he should invest greater Kavanah in Atah Chonein LaAdam Da’at, and ask Hashem for the ability to understand and learn.
Similarly, Rashi teaches us that someone who is a Ba’al Teshuva should have more Kavanah while reciting Selach Lanu Avinu Ki Chatanu, because he wants to develop that connection. As it is brought down in the sefer Emunah U'De'ah BeDivrei Rashi: Tefillah is what brings together love and connection, and therefore the relationship between man and God stems from connection, a place of Teffilah. HaBitui shel HaKadosh Baruch Hu, De’agato LaAm VeNekhonuto LeKabel et Teshuvat HaResha’im, twe know HaKadosh Baruch Hu really loves us and cares about us because he accepts our teshuva, and loves us even when we failed. It’s almost like a mother: even a child who offends his mother so much is still loved by their mother.
Rashi says in Yoma, Umiyad Yirapeh, it will immediately go away and the connection will be built back up in a snap. Rashi says the point of Teshuva is to reconnect our relationship with Hashem. Rashi on Sanhedrin 99 says that there is nothing that blocks a Ba’al Teshuva from HaKadosh Baruch Hu we have the ability to knock down the walls between us and Hashem. Rav Lichtenstein points out that throughout the year we may have distanced ourselves from god but now we have the ability and opportunity to rebuild that relationship with love, truth, and closeness.
Rashi in Shailot U’Teshuvot says that Teshuva goes straight to the Kisei HaKavod and nothing blocks it. Rashi points out in Sefer Yonah, Ninveh Nehepechet, why does the Pasuk use the word Nehepechet?
He explains that using that word tells us that they had the opportunity and ability to transform and flip their actions from bad to good thereby saving their city because of the word Nehepechet. Rashi points out in Sefer Yoel that Teshuva can bring forth fruits, not only does it switch things, Teshuva makes things blossom. That’s what Rashi points out in Sefer Yirmiyahu, Teshuva brings us back to our Kavod and to regain our lost glory. We see Rashi in three different places in Sanhedrin 94, 97, and 110 that Teshuva is the remedy that generates Geulah, “Beteshuvah Ve'Asya legeulah”. Rav Kook and Rav Sonnenfeld would go around in Elul time asking people to do Teshuva because it brings the Geulah.
At the end of the day, Rashi is developing two ideas of Teshuva. One, it separates those who are close to Hashem and far from Hashem. A true Avodat Hashem comes from a closeness to Him and not just continuing doing what you were born into. And that nothing stands in the way of Teshuva and can transform everything, to completely flip things on its head. We should all be Zocheh to have a true, honest, and open Teshuva process. And through this may we see the Geulah Sheleimah, BiMeheirah BeYameinu.