Sept. 5, 2024

FIND YOUR WHY: The Transformative Power of Repentance during Elul

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Season 7

Ever wondered why it's so hard to stick to your spiritual resolutions? Today, we uncover the profound value of even a fleeting moment of repentance during Elul, a critical season for introspection and spiritual renewal. We share an eye-opening story about a person grappling with the temporary nature of their repentance and the wisdom they receive in return. Discover the significance of initiating the process of teshuvah, even if it doesn’t last as long as you’d like, and learn why every moment of sincere repentance is cherished by Hashem.

This episode is a heartfelt call to embark on a journey of self-discovery this Elul. Learn how to find your "why"—the core reason driving your spiritual commitment and repentance. Whether it's love for Hashem or fear of punishment, understanding your motivation can empower you to follow Torah with newfound resolve. We provide practical advice and inspiring insights to help you reconnect with your faith and overcome the challenges in your spiritual journey. Tune in and equip yourself with the strength to make meaningful changes and embrace the transformative power of Elul.

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Questions or Comments? Please email me @ michaelbrooke97@gmail.com



WEBVTT

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Ah, you smell that Smells fresh, smells good, smells like Elul.

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Welcome in, ladies and gentlemen, to the best time of year Elul Tafshin Pei, dalet of Freshness, a time to reboot our spiritual observance and adherences to God's holy law, a time to, above all else, come closer to shuv, to teshuvah, to repent and come close back to our dad in heaven.

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The man asked the chazanah.

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She said Rebbe, why should I repent the point?

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I know it's Elul and I know everyone's talking about Chuva, but I've been through this before.

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I pretty much try to repent every year and it never lasts more than a day or two, if I'm lucky, a week.

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So repent, do it for a month, try to come close and follow the rules for 40 days until Yom Kippur.

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It never doesn't even have the slightest chance that it will last my tshuva until anywhere past Sukkot.

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So why repent?

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Why get off the couch and give it another shot?

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You know what the chazanesh answered.

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He said who told you that tshuva?

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That repentance needs to last?

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Do you understand how beloved it is in the eyes of Hashem?

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Just a mere moment of tshuva?

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You can even be metkadesh, a person if you say, on the stipulation that, are you a righteous person?

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Because maybe the Gemara says there was a hint of a here word tshuva, the slightest thought of repenting.

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Do you know how significant it is?

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So it doesn't matter if it lasts.

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It matters if you can at least start the process of tshuva.

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Ladies and gentlemen, we give it our all this, and to do that, I'd like to pose the following conundrum.

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Something to ponder is we all want to repent and we all give it our best shot.

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What holds us back sometimes is that it's just really hard.

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All of us want to do what's right.

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We all want to say the right thing, do the right thing, eat the right thing, not gossip at the wrong time or the wrong place, or do this or taste that or eat that.

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Why is it that sometimes we have a misstep and fail to follow Hashem's Torah?

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Often it's because it's just really really, really hard to do what's right.

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So, this Elul, do some self-discovery and to fight back against the Eitzahara that makes it so hard.

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I challenge you to repent by finding your why.

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I talked about this with somebody else when we came to this conclusion, just like in every other goal you have, when you know your why, you know why you do what's hard, like going to work.

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You know why you constantly well, hit the gym because you want to become whatever.

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Your why is win this, do this, get rewarded with this.

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Find your why.

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In Yiddish, be brutally honest.

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You know that it's I am my beloved, I'm his and he is mine.

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But go dig deep.

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Why is it?

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Do you serve Hashem because you love dad?

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Do you serve Hashem because you're scared of punishment?

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There are so many good possible answers, but be crystal, crystal clear and understand why you want to repent and even if it's just for a second and when you know your why, is one of the most powerful forces in the world and it can strengthen you to do hard things and give us a real chance at repenting.

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This, elo, know your why.