Hashem Accepts Our Teshuvah in Every Situation: The Ohr HaChaim on Nitzavim

“And it will be, when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse that I have set before you, and you take them to heart among all the nations where Hashem your God has driven you.” (Deuteronomy 30:1)

Parashat Nitzavim speaks about the Jewish people’s return to Hashem and His acceptance of their teshuvah, but this verse raises an interesting question: Why does the Torah mention both “the blessing and the curse” in connection with teshuvah? Why is it important for us to know what caused the Jewish people to return?

Returning to Hashem While Life Is Good

The Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh explains that there are different circumstances in which a person may come to teshuvah.

The first is when the Jewish people are enjoying goodness and abundance but have sinned against Hashem. If they recognize what they have done and return to Him before experiencing punishment for their sins, their teshuvah is on a particularly elevated level.

They did not need suffering to awaken them. Their return came from recognizing their wrongdoing and sincerely choosing to come back to Hashem. Such teshuvah is willingly and lovingly accepted by Hashem.

What If Suffering Is What Brings Us Back?

The Torah then teaches us an even more powerful lesson.

Hashem does not accept the Jewish people’s teshuvah only when they return to Him while enjoying peace and prosperity. Even if they sinned and only turned back to Hashem after experiencing hardship and suffering, their teshuvah is still accepted.

This is reflected in the words “and you take them to heart among all the nations.” Even after the Jewish people have been driven from their land and scattered among the nations, if their suffering causes them to return to Hashem, He accepts their teshuvah.

The Ohr HaChaim writes:

“‘The blessing and the curse’ means that it goes without saying that while goodness is still upon them, if they have acted wickedly and then repent, they will once again find favor before Hashem. But even after they have become rejected in the eyes of Hashem, and He has sent His anger against them and driven them from before Him, and because of the suffering surrounding them they return in teshuvah, as the verse says, ‘and you take it to heart among all the nations,’ nevertheless, Hashem will restore them from their captivity.”

Hashem Accepts Our Teshuvah in Every Situation

The Ohr HaChaim reveals the extraordinary kindness contained within the mitzvah of teshuvah.

Ideally, we should not wait for hardship to bring us back to Hashem. The highest form of return is to recognize our mistakes while life is still good and choose to change because we genuinely want to come closer to Him. But even when that does not happen, the door remains open.

Even if suffering is what finally awakens a person, even after he has fallen far and experienced the consequences of his actions, Hashem still welcomes his return.

This is the remarkable message of Parashat Nitzavim: there is no situation in which the path of teshuvah is closed. Hashem is ready to accept the Jewish people whenever they sincerely return to Him.