Jewish Inspiration Podcast · Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe

In this concluding section of the Gate of Repentance (Shaar HaTeshuvah), Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe explains that even unintentional mistakes require reflection and repair. Whether a person accidentally desecrates Shabbos by forgetting the day or commits another transgression without malicious intent, Judaism teaches that every action carries accountability. The Orchot Tzaddikim recommends that a person establish personal consequences—such as fasting, giving charity, or voluntarily giving up a physical pleasure—to reinforce awareness and prevent future mistakes. These self-imposed acts are not punishments, but tools for spiritual growth and greater mindfulness.

Rabbi Wolbe broadens this idea beyond major sins to include the subtle habits that quietly weaken our relationship with Hashem. Idle conversation, jealousy, hatred, enjoying another person's downfall, speaking lashon hara, reciting blessings without concentration, and praying absentmindedly all deserve sincere introspection. Every individual should regularly examine their own behavior, honestly acknowledge where improvement is needed, and approach Hashem with a humble, broken heart. The promise of teshuvah is that no matter where we have fallen, Hashem eagerly accepts sincere repentance.

The episode concludes with a discussion of Vidui—confession before Hashem. Drawing from the biblical account of Achan and the teachings of the Talmud, Rabbi Wolbe explains that confession is an essential component of repentance because it demonstrates personal responsibility. Even someone approaching the end of life who feels they have not fully repented is encouraged to confess and ask that their passing serve as atonement. Rabbi Wolbe closes the chapter by reminding us that the entire Gate of Repentance rests on one foundational principle: every action has consequences, every person is accountable, and Hashem stands ready to forgive those who sincerely acknowledge their mistakes and strive to improve.
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This Podcast Series is Generously Underwritten by Peter & Becky Botvin

Recorded at TORCH Centre in the Levin Family Studios (B) to a live audience on December 22, 2025, in Houston, Texas.
Released as Podcast on July 26, 2026
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This series on Orchos Tzadikim/Ways of the Righteous is produced in partnership with Hachzek.
Join the revolution of daily Mussar study at hachzek.com.
We are using the Treasure of Life edition of the Orchos Tzadikkim (Published by Feldheim)
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About the Host:
Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe, Director of TORCH in Houston, brings decades of Torah scholarship to guide listeners in applying Jewish wisdom to daily life.  To directly send your questions, comments, and feedback, please email: awolbe@torchweb.org
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What is Jewish Inspiration Podcast · Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe?

This Jewish Inspiration Podcast is dedicated to learning, understanding and enhancing our relationship with Hashem by working on improving our G-d given soul traits and aspiring to reflect His holy name each and every day. The goal is for each listener to hear something inspirational with each episode that will enhance their life.

You're listening to Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe of Torch in Houston, Texas. This is the Jewish inspiration podcast.

Welcome back my dear friends today number 173 page number 910 in the treasure for life edition of the Orchestra Deacon the ways of the righteous we are Towards the end of the gate of repentance I'll cane a vera vera shodom. Oh say baby show them amazing Kigon shenogah b'ner ohidlik ner b'Shabbos ve'eino zocher sh'hu Shabbos
So what happens if a person sins by mistake totally by mistake? Oops. I didn't realize it was Shabbos It's not that I know is Shabbos and I didn't know this was a sin. I didn't I forgot that it was Shabbos completely he turned on the light turned off the light lit a candle, whatever it may be by mistake or Or Intentionally unintentionally or intentionally. Oh She also blow idea Yes, slowly. He's father's police. I know it's a whole apocalypse She may y'all mention even Hamishi the cane alcohol
I'll veer us get all the Sultana's show Adam. Oh, say says there are ways for us to repent and repair for those sins Who was a yes post a Tobos a person who fasts for his sins? to Repair them. Oh, I have shot on a smoker Paris. We know that fasting brings about Atonement bash near she money my virus is that when a person fasts they limit themselves in what they? sin
Key actually a person's thinking emails as those historically Sanas if I do a sin, I'm gonna have to fast again I don't want to fast not fun to fast The monomy talk, I'm an avarice and this will help a person stay away from other sins He's oh, yeah, I get there. I go low the feet Let's make call how there is she equals ozmo or lita in stock. Oh, oh lasso cyber goof. Oh kisha over and a person Should penalize himself?
You know what? I'm not gonna have chocolate today because I made a mistake So I'm gonna penalize myself person should take his own accounting not wait for God to take the accounting And with whatever way a person can the cane, yeah I sell a call a virus who rugged by hand could go and sin of a kin of a Simcoe Let aid have a row with Warren Battalion. The lush and Horace
He brings a whole list if a person is has hatred is envy rejoicing at the disparagement of his fellow man Idle talk slander the lack of intent and blessings and prayers Oshilo is covered with a breakfast of it. Phyllis is Eric breakfast with people of a person just throws blessings out of his mouth So with that mouth without Intention or focus the whole coyotes of a loom and all such mistakes Harbin mode you've dog at small the whole young the aleh hainan and the impaga be echoed me a loop
If you're over a lamb, you're marley. It's dire release. I build with his father's Also, so a person should just contemplate what sins what may have I have made a mistake and every person according to their level A person is not going to be held accountable for Sins that are way up there Let's go regular level Ground-floor mistakes will have a kishmich. He'll amaze Hashem. He's brought believe in each one of a person brokenheartedly
Asks God for forgiveness. It's guaranteed that God will forgive. God is very very forgiving Indian God will who have he do he says now about confession confession is a very very powerful thing Kishon or Abyssinia our sages of blessed memory Taught us how your rock we base a skill. Okay, sir. Amos only low is father when When they would bring someone out to to to be killed for a crime that they did in Jewish court So they would tell him confess your sins confess
She came there of call. I'm a mossy. I'm a mossy miss Vadim She call him is Vada. Yes. Okay. I'm a boy at least if you confess you'll have a portion of the world to come She came not seen about hon. We see this by our hon She armor low you're sure you sure said to him beneath seem. No cover lash. I'm a low-key. He's roll the tame low Toda The Haggad know the mossy saw I'll take a head me many he says confess
What you've done confess what you've done Tell me do not keep it for me By y'all can only SEO sure and often responded to you. She were Emma. Oh, no I know he caught us in a similar case all because those because those are CC and he responds I sinned against God the God of Israel and this is these are my sins when I should keep a little bit of it and From where do we know? And how do we know that confession atone for him?
Because it says right after that by Yomer by Yomer you're sure me a carton. Oh, yeah. Yeah, our cock. Yeah, our cock Yeah, I call her hashem beyond hazeh But you'll miss it at the awkward. He had to offer a number of art says the verse states Why have you sullied us? Hashem will sully you this day. Why this day? Because of this day Hashem Seeked your your punishment, but in the world to come you're all clean ready
And that's that's what the Talmud teaches us that when a person confesses they merit the world to come meaning Yeah, there may be a punishment but on the in the big picture It's a very good thing for a person to confess their sins appropriately by Yom hazeh I thought of he had to offer them above the em A you know your dailies found us if a person doesn't know how to confess their sins Oh, no, I'm more to haze me saucy
I that a person should at least say let my death be an atonement for all of my sins and indeed in the verbiage of the Prayer that one recites right before death. There's a special prayer and in that prayer This these are the words that are actually recited that you know what I may not have appropriately Confessed all of my sins. I may not have done teshuvah I may not have repented appropriately, but let my death be a an atonement for all of my sins
So this is a little bit heavy on pay a day number 173 here but it's an important thing for us to realize that there's accountability for everything and this is the bottom line of everything that we discuss in the entire chapter of repentance and that is that there is a Checks and balances to every action and reaction in our life Everything that we do we are held accountable. There is accountability for everything and
If we just own up to our mistakes in front of the Almighty, he's very very easy to forgive.

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