Our Gemara on Amud Aleph discusses the rule that regular chattas sin offerings and asham sacrifices whose blood is brought into the sanctuary become invalidated. This is in contradistinction to the specific chattas sacrifices whose blood is sprinkled inside the sanctuary, such as the offerings on Yom Kippur and the offerings for certain communal sins.
Sefer Daf al Daf explains this as a beautiful metaphor. After repenting, the sinner may presumptuously assume that he is ready for full resumption into holiness without any additional self-development or work. This is represented by the idea that the blood of the standard chattas is invalidated if brought into the sanctuary. There is no express elevator to the top floor.
And yet, here is an interesting point. The blood of the Olah, which arguably is holier than the chattas since it is totally consumed on the altar, is never brought into the sanctuary. However, the blood of certain kinds of chattas are brought in. That shows that repentance, done step by step and appropriately, can ascend the highest spiritual levels. As Chazal say (Berachos 34b), “Baale Teshuva are able to occupy a level that the purely righteous cannot.”
How does this work? In most situations — mental, emotional, relational, or medical — one who survives an ordeal comes out stronger. The process develops confidence, resilience, and new skills. Everything in the physical world was designed by the same Creator as the spiritual world, and often similar patterns endure. The Baal Teshuva had to work through his impediments, struggles, and distorted cognitions to recover. Those skills enable new insights and greater devotion.
I heard a similar idea in a Tanya shiur from Rabbi Lopiansky (Tanya 16, Perek 7): Sometimes a person will only appreciate or enjoy water once he feels thirsty. When there is a corruption or loss caused by the sin, it creates a thirst in the soul for that spiritual nutrition. This is how the Baal Teshuva can occupy a higher place. While the Baal Teshuva cannot rush nor presume his attainment, in time he can go beyond what he was even before his sins. We will discuss more about this on tomorrow’s daf
Translations Courtesy of Sefaria, except when, sometimes, I disagree with the translation
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Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, LCSW-R, LMFT, DHL is a psychotherapist who works with high conflict couples and families. He can be reached via email at simchafeuerman@gmail.com