For those who have had setbacks after Yom Kippur, here is some major encouragement: Chazal call the first day of Sukkos "Rishon l'Cheshbon Ha'avonos."  This cannot simply mean that we're too busy to sin before then, because that's not necessarily true and, furthermore, that's not what the words imply.  It also cannot mean that we get a free pass between Yom Kippur and Sukkos.  What, then, do Chazal mean?

I heard in the name of the Shelah HaKadosh, that in the four days between Yom Kippur and Sukkos, Aveiros committed b'Shogeig [or, it would seem, with other significant mitigating circumstances, such as the addictions so many of us suffer from - see P.S. below], where the person does Teshuva, are forgiven to the same extent as if they had been done before Yom Kippur!  What an amazing Chizuk that is!

So, for those who have slippped, fallen, or had other setbacks, do not despair.  Stop immediately, do Teshuva, set up solid safeguards to avoid a repeat performance, and you can reset the clock to the moments after Neilah!

Important Caveat: No one should rely on this and, c"v, allow himself to fall!  That's not how the Ribbono Shel Olam works.  But this should provide tremendous encouragement for those who have slipped or fallen, and desperately want another chance to regain their post Yom Kippur level.

P.S. I thought I was going on a bit of a limb when I suggested above that the Shelah HaKadosh was not only referring to Aveiros done b'Shogeig, but even to those done b'Meizid, provided that there were mitigating circumstances.  However, I just realized that it's not such a stretch.  The Lashon of Chazal is "Rishon l'Cheshbon Ha'avonos."  "Avon" means an Aveira done b'Meizid, as opposed to "Cheit," which means an Aveira done b'Shogeig.  If Chazal were only referring to Aveiros done b'Shogeig, they would have called the first day of Sukkos "Rishon l'Cheshbon HaChata'im."  It must be, then, that even Aveiros done b'Meizid between Yom Kippur and Sukkos can be completely obliterated with Teshuva, as if they had been committed before Yom Kippur.  To avoid giving everyone a "free pass" to do Aveiros, however, I would suggest that this only applies to Aveiros done under mitigating circumstances (e.g. because of a very strong y"h and/or an addiction).  However, the truth is, most Aveiros done by Frum people, especially right after Yom Kippur, are done under mitigating circumstances.    

Please see the Postscripts above, which I added today.

Thanks so much u are KEDUSHA

!!

Thats some great encouragement, sukkos is a time to seperate from ourselves(house and other material pleasures) and just to rely on HKBH(sit in sukka subject to the elements) because he is the ONLY THING we have,once we realize that(myself) we can tell ourselves- will this action or thing that I say,help HKBH make my life easier or Chas Vshalom the opposite, granted this is a high level and we are addicts, but if we actually contemplate how much we need Hashem, He will come closer to us, because that is our purpose...

I think that we are going to start calling you Rabeinu Kedusha such care, such love, such ahvas yisroel that emanates from your holy post above-

may the Almighty repay you mida bmida.......

Fiery love and respect to Rabeinu Kedusha

Noorah

This would seem to be a good time to resurrect this thread.

Noorah, if you're reading this, we miss you!

I like the vort.

Regarding the depression in general, people must realize that for many days we were on a high, and now, the desires slip in through the vacuum created.

It's that wonderful time of year again - let's move this thread to the top!

Kedusha do you not think we can find a reason to repent anytime in the year

Post Motzei Shabbos
Post Sunday
Post Mothers Day
Post Valentines Day (I like that one because there's a smiley for it on gye)

I used to feel bad Post Yom Kippur, Post Succos...

Whats it gonna help someone like me that was stuck in a rut, to say that intentional sins are not so bad...

This clearly does not work if one relies on it l'chatchila - read the important caveat in my first post.

Many people have gotten a great deal of Chizuk from this.  If anyone finds it counterproductive, pretend you never read it.