Baal Teshuva

A Baal Teshuva is a title given to a Jew who at some point in their life made a turning point and began observing Torah and mitzvos. In Chabad Chassidus, there are hundreds and thousands of such chassidim who became Baalei Teshuva after meeting with the Rebbe or his chassidim.

Throughout Eretz Hakodesh and the entire world, there are yeshivos for these temimim, where the bochurim learn basic halachic studies related to daily Jewish life, together and combined with the study of Chassidus and Gemara. Similar frameworks exist for girls.

In Chabad Chassidus, the concept of "Baal Teshuva" receives a deeper meaning, according to which even a tzaddik needs to be a 'Baal Teshuva', according to his own level of avodah.

In Toras HaChassidus

Regarding the level of a Baal Teshuva, the Mitteler Rebbe writes:

The love of "bechol meodecha" is an unlimited love, in the aspect of the very essence and substance of the soul called baal haratzon, which is beyond the aspect of ratzon entirely, meaning that the entire essence of the soul yearns and longs to exit and cleave, and not just in the aspect of ratzon alone. Therefore it is called "meodecha" without limit, for such great love does not come from the limited powers of the soul in ratzon and the like, but rather from its entire essential being which is hiyuli and completely unlimited.

However, this התפעלות of the entire essence of the soul completely is only possible in the aspect of ohr chozer to the essence, which is when the vessels of the soul cannot contain the התפעלות, since it is too great for the tzimtzum of the soul's powers of intellect and heart. Therefore such התפעלות must remain in a makif aspect above the intellect, and likewise the ratzon remains in the essence of the soul - the baal haratzon.

This level comes specifically through Baalei Teshuva, because a Baal Teshuva was very far removed from the light and pleasure of closeness to Hashem, called "ohr pnei melech chaim". For through his many sins, one who transgresses becomes very greatly distanced, and this distance causes great bitterness in his soul over the greatness of the distance, until his teshuva to Hashem comes from the depths of the heart, like the known story of Rabbi Elazar ben Durdaya whose soul departed through crying, meaning that the measure of his desire's strength to cleave to Hashem intensified in his entire heart-point, in a way that the vessels of mind and heart could not grasp at all.

This desire is called ohr chozer, and it comes from the aspect of distance which causes him to be affected in his heart-point, unlike complete tzaddikim whose התפעלות is only from their comprehension and pleasure in Hashem through Torah and prayer. Even the התפעלות of "bechol nafshecha" in Krias Shema is not with the entire essence-point of the soul, only the aspect of light drawn from the soul's essence which is ratzon. But the desire of Baalei Teshuva is in the aspect of the soul's expiration - "kalsa nafshi", like Rabbi Elazar ben Durdaya.

The Zohar states that Moshiach comes to bring tzaddikim to do teshuva, meaning, to awaken in them that level and elevated vitality even in tzaddikim, from the soul's inner dimension.

Baal Teshuva in Chabad

Today there are many Chabad yeshivos for Baalei Teshuva. In these yeshivos, emphasis is placed on personal, warm and loving attention with focus on the small details in the students' lives.

Frequently, these yeshivos hold Chassidic farbrengens that bring vitality and joy into all avodas Hashem and Torah study in the yeshiva.

In each such yeshiva, one can find some staff members who themselves underwent a transformation in their lives and began observing Torah and mitzvos. Naturally, and due to their accumulated experience, these staff members have the special approach and understanding of the heart of a student taking his first steps in Yiddishkeit.

Additionally, there are organizations that arrange vacations and courses for learning about Yiddishkeit, Chassidus and the structure of the soul. During the course, participants are exposed to the deep layers of the Jewish world, secrets of creation and the human soul.