Rebbi Chaim ben Attar z”l (1696–1743) Author of the “Orach Chaim” HaKadosh and Many Other Works
(From the teachings of Maran Rabbenu Ovadia Yosef ztvk”l) (written by his grandson HaRav Yaakov Sasson Sh’lit”a) (translated by our dear friend Rav Daniel Levy Sh’lit”a, United Kingdom)
Teshuvah is Within Our Grasp!
The day of Rosh Hashanah is the Day of Judgement on which the whole world pass before Hashem Yitbarach the King of Justice and for each and every one of them are decreed on this day all that will happen to them during the year and also in future years. Therefore everyone must wake up to make teshuvah and to mend their ways in order to merit to be written and sealed in the books of tzadikim that they merit to a good and blessed year for them and their household.
Some people think that it is so hard to make teshuvah, asking, how may we repent?
About this Rabbenu Ovadia Yosef tzvk”l once said that they relate about the Gaon Rebbi Chaim ben Atar (the author of the “Orach Chaim” HaKadosh) that he once stood in the bet hamidrash and spoke about teshuvah, whilst a crowd of people gathered around him. An unobservant person from Torah and mitzvot passed by and asked, “What is this gathering for?” They said to him, “Come and listen!” They made a path for him, and he stood before the Rav who was speaking about the magnitude of teshuvah, words like flames of fire.
The words touched his heart until tears streamed from his eyes. When the Rav finished speaking and the community dispersed each one to their home, then the man approached the Rav and said, “My master the Rav! Your words found a place in my heart and I accept upon myself complete teshuvah. But my master the Rav, I have one request, pray for me that tonight I will go to sleep and not wake up as I don’t have the strength to continue in a life of Torah and mitzvot and I cannot withstand them, therefore it is better that I die innocent and don’t die liable!”
The Rav said, “G-D forbid that I do this. But listen and know this that someone already preceded you and made the very request that you make. This is Bilam the wicked one who said, ‘Let me die the death of the upright, but let my end be like his’ (Bamidbar 23:10). Bilam knew that in order to live the ‘life of the upright’ he had no strength. But he was prepared to die the ‘death of the upright…’”.
“But we,” continued Rebbi Chaim ben Atar, “Are the children of Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov, and it is guaranteed for us from HKB”H’s mouth, ‘Open for Me an opening like a hole made by a needle and I will open for you an opening like a hall’ [Shir HaShirim Rabbah 5:2]. Have you considered how much huge Heavenly assistance is given to someone who returns in teshuvah? Our Chachamim z”l already said, ‘One who comes to purify themselves, they help them’ [see Mishlei 3:34 and Yoma 38b]. We don’t ask of you other than a fine hole, the ‘hole of the needle,’ and they will open for you a great hole the entrance of a hall. Go and study Torah! And you will go from strength to strength, and I will be with you!” The man listened to the Rav’s voice, and he made a complete repentance. He married a G-D fearing woman and he raised a blessed generation, upright and blessed.
We must reflect that people who were very far from the ways of the Torah and who merited to return in complete teshuvah, are now very beloved before Hashem Yitbarach. Indeed HaRav HaGadol Rebbi Uri Zohar zt”l (1935-2022) was steeped in the vanities of this world whilst being one of the leaders of the pseudo-secular culture several decades ago [in the 1960s and 1970s] and he struggled for a certain period to repent. He gave his life for it until they shone from Heaven for him and Hashem merited him to ascend in Torah and yirat shamayim from a sense of joy, until he became unique amongst those that study Torah and serve Hashem in our time. [He famously wrote the book “My Friends, We Were Robbed!” first published in 1994.] Like him there were many others in our generation and in the previous generations. And all the more so a person who isn’t so far from the ways of the Torah, they must better their ways as they are assured from Heaven that Hashem will assist them in this, “Open for Me an opening like a hole made by a needle and I will open for you an opening like a hall.”
From the bottom of our hearts, we extend our best wishes to all the cherished students of "Halacha Yomit" who dedicate their time and attention to the study of Torah. May it be His will that you merit a good and blessed year; may you ascend ever higher in Torah and the fear of Heaven, and be blessed with all the blessings found in the Torah. May the Almighty fulfil all your heart's desires for good and blessing in His service, and may you enjoy many long, pleasant, and good years!