אות - עא

Regarding what is written in the holy Zohar (131) that for corrupting the Bris [covenant], in particular one who emits seed wastefully, Heaven forbid, etc. — repentance is of no avail. Rabbainu o.b.m. said that the matter is not so — rather repentance helps for everything (132). And he said that this passage in the Zohar has no one who understands its plain meaning except him alone. And the rule is that in truth repentance helps for everything — even for the gravest sins (133). And he said regarding this that when a person repents from love, the intentional sins become like merits to him. He explained this in a wondrous and lofty way: that all the damage he did is transformed into holiness and good (134). And this is a very profound matter. And concerning repentance he spoke much and said that even if a person repents and then sins again and repents again — even so the repentance was not lost. And the repentance of each time rectifies something. And the main thing is not to despair, Heaven forbid, ever (135). 131. RAK: Part I, 188b. 219b. 132. RAK: Zohar Part I, 62b. 133. RAK: See Likutay Moharan 282; Jerusalem Talmud Peah 1; Zohar Part II, 106b; Rambam Laws of Repentance 3:14; Responsa of the Radbaz 5:6. 134. RAK: Likutay Moharan Tinyana 49. 135. RAK: Yoma 86b. See Likutay Moharan 79, 206. Shivchay HaRan 16.