The concept of Teshuvah is not only associated with sins or transgressions. We can repent even when we didn't transgressed, as the meaning of Teshuvah is to return to our source. Every soul goes through a spiritual downfall at some point and with that we are losing our G-dly sensitivity.
Teshuvah is to return our soul back to it source, back to HaShem and to be once again within His unity. Teshuvah is relevant to all Jews and whatever the reason may be to repent, to regret past sins and transgressions, is to become a better version of ourselves. The motivation behind the reason to do Teshuvah must be done from our innermost part to re- connect to HaShem, our Cheilek Elokah Mima'al. Teshuvah is coming home and bringing our Neshama out of golus back to HaShem.
When we observe His Mitzvos and His degrees, that are written in His Torah, and when we return to HaShem it should be done with all of our heart and all of our soul. When someone is in a pre- Teshuvah process and expresses as his heart and soul sees fit, he will not hear the message of HaShem telling him to stay on the right path and even when this person studies Torah, he will not hear what it is saying.
When you are in a stage to be able to really listen to the voice of HaShem, then there is this link and the time to return to HaShem with all of your heart and all of your soul. Teshuvah brings us the oppertunity to erase all of our averios, the concept of Teshuvah is also accepting the consequences of our actions, in terms of blessings and curses.
Moshe brought this to our attention, that in the light of the mitzvah of Teshuvah the consequences of the direction someone takes are life and death - and you shall choose life.
Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, founder and first Rebbe of Chabad says, Teshuvah is for sinners, but in truth even Tzaddikim must do Teshuvah, return to the root- source of our soul.
Here is a story of Tzaddik repentance, a perfectly righteous person.
Teshuvah before Moshiach comes and what is the impact when Moshiach comes?
Must we be ready for the redemption through doing Teshuvah?
The coming of Moshiach is connected through Teshuvah.
How to do Teshuvah.
Every commandment in the Torah, whether to peform or refrain from some acts, a person who transgresses on of the commandments, whether this is unintentionally or intentionally, must confess before HaShem and do Teshuvah for the sin. As it is written in Bamidbar 5: 6-7,
" A man or woman who commits a sin and transgessions against HaShem, the soul feels guilt and must confess the sin conmitted. This confession is a possitive commandment.
But how should a person confess?
" Please HaShem, I have sinned, I have wronged, I have rebelled before you, ( and say the sin commited ) I regret and I am ashamed of my deeds, and I will never return to that sin again".
This is the essence of confession. When people who were guilty of a sin,and brought sacrifices for their sins, whether unintentionally or intentionally, they would not receive atonement through their offerings until they did Teshuvah, and confessed the confession with words. Jewish confession is entirely private and is between the individual and HaShem. No other person should hear this confession. By saying it out loud, even if no one hears it other than HaShem.
In Vayikra 16:21, says " And he will confess over all the sins of all the children of Israel.
The ' Send Goat ' atones for all sins in the Torah, the lighter ones and the stricter ones, the unintentionally or intentionally, whether we aware of them or not. All sins receive atonement through the goat that is send away. As long as a person does Teshuvah. Without Teshuvah, the goat only atones for the lighter sins only.
Confession demands a thorough review of our choices, analyzing and testing our behavior. The internal reflection is the very first step in the process of Teshuvah. We must search our ways, identify our choices, examine them and this will ultimately lead to a return to HaShem.