The Ten Days of Repentance: When Prayer and Return Are Accepted Right Away

We are now in the most exalted days of the year.

The prophet Isaiah tells the people of Israel: 'Seek Hashem when He may be found; call upon Him when He is near.' What time is this verse referring to? How can we know when Hashem is close and present beside us? The Gemara says that it refers to these days, the Ten Days of Repentance, when Hashem is truly right here with us.

The Rambam writes about the Ten Days of Repentance: "Even though repentance and crying out are always good, during the ten days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur they are especially good, and they are accepted immediately."

Repentance before Yom Kippur is a positive commandment, as we were commanded: "Before Hashem, you shall be purified." The Shulchan Aruch states: "During these days, a person should examine his deeds and return from his bad actions. He should increase his involvement in Torah, mitzvot, and tzedakah, and reduce his business activities."

Because of their unique holiness, the holy Arizal wrote that one should conduct oneself during these days as on Chol Hamoed, not working unless there would be a major loss. This allows one’s time to remain available for spiritual needs.

If we pause to reflect, we can see the enormous kindness embedded in the mitzvah of repentance. Under every system of law and justice in the world, when someone commits an offense, that person is required to pay for it—sometimes through physical punishment, prison time, community service, or a financial penalty. But there is no situation in which a person comes before a judge, declares that they regret what they did and will never commit the offense again, and the judge is satisfied with that alone. Every person must pay for their actions. But we have received a wonderful opportunity from our Creator: We committed an offense, we did not behave properly, and then we come forward and regret it wholeheartedly, promise and commit ourselves never to do it again—and that is it!

The kindness is magnified many times over: Not only did the Creator give us an opportunity to repair what we sinned, but He also established the work of repentance as a mitzvah among all the other mitzvot, so that one who returns in repentance is even rewarded for doing so.

And if that were not enough, Hashem Himself opens the gates of repentance for us, asks and urges us, and places an awakening in a person’s heart to return in repentance. All of this comes from His great love and affection for us.

Rabbi Zamir Cohen, in a fascinating lecture about the role of the Ten Days of Repentance:

During the Ten Days of Repentance, the closing wording of several blessings in the Amidah is changed, and special requests are added. For the changes in the prayer, click here.

During the Ten Days of Repentance, the prayer of Avinu Malkeinu is added at the end of the Shacharit and Mincha services. To learn more about this prayer, click here.

Rabbi Zamir Cohen explains: What are the foundations of repentance for the Ten Days of Repentance and in general?Click here.       

How can you make the most of the days of repentance? Rebbetzin Chagit Shira shares 10 special tips.To read them, click here.

It is written in the holy books that "the difference between the Ten Days of Repentance and all other days in regard to repentance and prayer is like the difference between light and darkness; and one hour of repentance and good deeds during these days is better than entire days during the rest of the year."