Lessons in Tanya - Lesson 20 - Repentance Out of Love - Repairing Damage Done Through Sin -Chapter 7

The three Kelipot (husks/shells/peels) are completely evil. Nevertheless, if a person engaged in an activity which is bound by these three Kelipot, he can still make repair to the sin which was committed. This can be done through Teshuvah Mei'Ahavah - repentance out of love. When one has tremendous love for God - and a real regret for having done wrong, then not only is he forgiven, but one's sins are converted into merits!

Therefore, one can repair even such sins as having eaten non-kosher food and having engaged in sexual immorality (sexual activity forbidden by the Torah.) However, there is one sin that the kelipah holds onto that it not released through a repentance out of love. This is the sin of the emission of seed (the spilling of seed) in vain. Though it is in fact worse than general sexual immorality, there is another way that repentance can be done for this sin. The Alter Rebbe tells us what to do based upon the teachings of the Arizal.

There is however one sin that can never be atoned for - though even here, there is a certain way to repair it.

We now begin chapter 8 of the Tanya. We begin to explore the idea of using the strength gained from having eaten forbidden foods for the sake of Mitzvot and whether there is a benefit. Can one use the strength gained from non-kosher forbidden food to perform Mitzvot? Can one raise the level of holiness that exists within the forbidden? Is there such a thing? Is there holiness inside the unholy that can somehow be elevated?!