Timely words as we face the gates of teshuva

According to the teachings of our sages, teshuva is one of the most important mitzvot, yet many of us avoid it or feel uncomfortable with the process because we don’t understand it fully.

In “Opening The Gates of Teshuva: A Contemporary Commentary on Rabbeinu Yonah’s Shaarei Teshuva,” Rabbi Asher Baruch Wegbreit has taken one of classics on this subject, Rabbeinu Yona’s “Shaarei Teshuva,” and has made it accessible by showing how we can reconnect and rebuild our relationship with G-d.

Here’s an excerpt from the introduction to this valued work, published by Feldheim, for your edification.

“The Need For A Modern Commentary On Shaarei Teshuva:

“No one can deny that ‘Shaarei Teshuva’ is one of the most important texts in Jewish history. Other than the Rambam’s Hilchot Teshuva, Shaarei Teshuva arguably stands alone as a guide and source of inspiration for the profoundly important mitzva of teshuva.

“Recognizing the power contained in this work, I attempted to distill Rabbeinu Yona’s insights in a way that demonstrates how we can reframe our perspective in favor of the life-enhancing view of the Torah.” 

Further on, the author linked Rabbeinu Yona’s approach to modern psychology to convey that this book is relevant and approachable in our lives.

It is the author’s hope that this was done with the ultimate goal in mind, to help our soul to fulfill its intense longing to cleave to our holy Creator.

“Certainly, upon hearing the shofar blasts that herald the month of Elul, the month of hope, the month that heralds the high holy days of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, we should welcome guidance for the repentance process.”