Shabbat Shuva: A Time for Teshuvah, Joy, and Jewish Unity

A Wake-Up Call for the SoulAs we enter Shabbat Shuva, the Shabbat between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, our hearts are stirred. It is not just another Shabbat—it’s a divine opportunity for teshuvah, connection, and renewal. In this week's Torah message, Rebbetzin Chavi Golovenshitz offers words of encouragement for every Jewish woman seeking closeness to Hashem during this awe-filled time.

This dvar Torah is shared le’ilui nishmat Esther Malka bas Dov, a righteous woman who lived a life of quiet, powerful chesed. May her memory continue to inspire acts of kindness and heartfelt return.

Teshuvah with Joy: The Secret to Yom Kippur Preparation

How do we prepare our souls for Yom Kippur?The answer, says Rabbi Akiva, lies not just in confession or regret, but in simchah—joy.

“Ashreichem Yisrael… mitaharim Yisrael besimchah” – “Fortunate are you, Israel… you are purified with joy.”

Teshuvah isn't just about sadness over sin—it’s about hope, optimism, and reconnecting with the essence of our neshama. Just as a mikveh purifies, so does our hope (tikvah) bring us back to Hashem with love.

The Formula for True Teshuvah

According to Torah, complete teshuvah requires two vital components:

1. Vidui – honest, heartfelt confession

2. Kabbalah al ha’atid – a sincere commitment to improve

When we admit our mistakes openly before Hashem, we unlock the gates of mercy. We say “anachnu bagadnu”—we have erred. We do not stand alone. Am Yisrael confesses together.

Shabbat Shuva and Achdut: The Power of Unity

This week’s parsha, Vayelech, contains the mitzvah of Hakel—when men, women, and even infants gathered to hear the Torah directly from the king.

Why include even babies? Because unity is more powerful than perfection.

So too, on Yom Kippur, we say Avinu Malkeinu—Our Father, Our King. We don’t stand before Hashem as individuals, but as a nation. This is the ultimate moment of achdut, a national return, together.

True Stories of Teshuvah and Emunah

1. The Farmer and the Tefillin – One Mitzvah That Saved a SoulReb Aaron Kotler once stopped at a Russian farmhouse while fleeing during the war. A simple farmer cried when he saw tefillin—“I’ve never worn those.” Reb Aaron offered him the chance to do the mitzvah. Decades later, in a dream, the farmer thanked him—“That one mitzvah saved me.”

Lesson: No mitzvah is ever lost. Each one is eternal.

2. The Girl Saved by a Tefillah Years EarlierReuven davened for his friend Shimon who was ill—but the friend passed away. Years later, Reuven’s daughter got engaged to a bachur also named Shimon ben Yisrael. The family realized: the tefillot had been saved. That soul was spared for a future purpose.

Lesson: Every prayer has impact—even when we don’t see the results right away.

How to Prepare for Yom Kippur: A Spiritual Checklist

• ✅ Recite Vidui with sincerity

• ✅ Strengthen your kabbalot for personal growth

• ✅ Increase acts of chesed and kindness

• ✅ Daven with heart and hope

• ✅ Connect with klal Yisrael in achdut and empathy

• ✅ Hold onto joy—because Hashem believes in your return