401 —תשובה והשבת האור שאבד על ידי העדר קיום מצוות עשה

B"H, 23 Elul, 5708.

Haraha"ch havavac"h iy"a etc.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In response to your question regarding "So says Hashem: Observe..." (Tashag, ch. 4), about whether teshuvah repairs the flaw caused by neglecting a positive mitzvah—does it mean that the light which was lacking is drawn down, as if he performed the mitzvah (in which case there is a difficulty from Tanya ch. 1, which states that nevertheless the light is missing)? Or does it mean that it only helps from now on? It is clear that at the end of that chapter it is written that not only does it affect from now on, but also draws down the light that had departed. As for your difficulty from Tanya ch. 1, it is already explained in Likkutei Torah, "Mah Tovu," ch. 4, that this applies to ordinary teshuvah; but with profound teshuvah—'from the depths I called You'—it also fills in the missing light.

This can be connected with what is stated in Yoma 86a: through teshuvah out of fear one is healed from now on; through teshuvah out of love his sin is uprooted from its source.

Signing with blessings for a good and sweet year,
M. Schneersohn

Summary

The Rebbe explains that deep and sincere teshuvah can restore even the Divine light lost by neglecting positive mitzvos—not just prevent further loss. Profound repentance elevates and repairs completely, especially when motivated by love.