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Rebbe Nachman ztk’l speaks of the importance of joining Tehillim with teshuva. There is a well-known kabbalistic teaching of the fifty gates of return of which forty-nine we have full access to. However, the fiftieth gate is personally governed by Hashem and is accessible only through special permission.  The forty-nine gates parallel to the forty-nine letters in the Hebrew names of the twelve tribes.

The Jewish people are granted special privilege to the forty-nine gates of return by virtue of their inner awakening to return to Hashem; however many cannot attain this level on their own. Recitation of Tehillim awakens the G-dly soul making us worthy of return and enabling access to these main gates.

Tehillim grants access to the letter of the tribes attached to each of these gates thus allowing us to truly return to Hashem. Dovid HaMelech is called the ‘Sweet Singer of Israel’ because the words of Tehillim have the power to awaken teshuva through Divine inspiration.

It was specifically in Mitzrayim where the tribes passed through the forty-nine gates of teshuva that made them worthy of the exodus and redemption.

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Conversing with Hashem may not come easy to many yet these coming weeks are the best time to take the challenge and begin.  Rebbe Nachman ztk’l teaches that talking to Hashem requires a great deal of spiritual commitment. The Rebbe goes as far as suggesting that if no words come to mouth we should merely take a word and repeat it until the right words come forth. Just repeating the words “Ribbono Shel Olam” opens the gateway to deeper forms of conversation waiting to spill forth from the depths of one’s soul.

In fact Rebbe Nachman prescribes the ‘silent scream’; an intentional tensing of the mind, which leads way to mental relaxation and newly sprouted words. The nefesh part of our soul, also known as the animal spirit and connection to the physical body, longs to be recognized.  To this end it is also important to talk to one’s body parts.

For example, talk to an aching body part and inject words of emuna and love. Tell your legs “I know I haven’t taken you to the right places until now, but I am striving to improve and walk to more spiritually refined places from this point onward.” This profound method sharpens G-dly consciousness and is a perfect way to develop a strong bond to Hashem during our personal prayer times.

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All that occurs in this world happens because of the nation of Israel. When we do our job correctly, focus on inner and world peace, humanity blossoms. The gloomy clouds of fear and anxiety that hang around us are meant to drive us to do our duty. Our actions affect the entire world; the outside pressing forces whether it be challenges at home, financial or health get us to fulfill our commitment.

The Jewish people are judged based on how the world looks, not just with respect to themselves. We were chosen to be a ‘light onto nations’ or c’v we bring darkness into the world. On Yom Kippur, the day of judgment, we read the story of Yonah who ran from his duty and therefore caused others to suffer.  We too have a worldly mission and should not attempt to ‘sail away’ from carrying it out. “No calamity comes to the world but for Israel” (Yevamot, 63) and the world knows it. We are constantly blamed because the nations of the world realize that the Jewish people are the ones responsible for all their troubles.

There is no running away from our calling as the chosen people; it is our G-d given role and duty and the purpose of Jewish presence.

Today’s daily dose of emuna is dedicated l’iluy nishmat Talla Monir bat Hashmat, Hashmat bat Sultan, Sultan bat Sara, Yousef ben Shoshana and Albert Efraim ben Talla Monir z’l. May their souls bask in the Divine radiance among all the righteous who have departed from this world, Amen.