(Courtesy: Melissa Moskowitz )
The guilt we experience as a result of breaking God’s Law does not enable us to keep from breaking it again. This is seen in the story of Rabbi Levi Yitzhak of Berditchev who, when he became old, adopted the following practice: Each night before he went to bed he would review the events of the day that had passed. And he would say of whatever was evil in it, “I shall not do this again.” Having looked at his deeds and having said this, he would say to himself, “But so you promised last night and the night before.” “Ah, yes,” he would answer himself, “but tonight I am in earnest.” (l)
(l)Steinberg, Milton; 1951, A Believing Jew. New York: Harcourt, Brace and Company, p. 213-228.