"baal tshuva" alternative?

[GreenEagle]

I don't really like the term "baal tshuva"... it implies that the person sinned intentionally and then repented, which is not the case at all as the term is used commonly. I'm surprised that the term seems to be used a lot on chabadTalk. Did the Rebbe use that term? If not, what did he use instead?

[Lamp Lighter]

Oy Vay Pt2.

What isnt you dont like about the term Baal Teshuvah? A Master of Repentence? How does it in any way imply that a person sinned intentionally and then repented which in one scenario is completely accurate.

A frum from birth person leaves the Torah life and comes back is a Baal Teshuvah. A person who sins ONCE and then reprents is a baal teshuva. A secular Jew who is called a "tinok shenishba" a kidnapped child who isnt liable for anything wrong he does figures out the Torah life is the way is a baal teshuvah.

The term is used everywhere in the frum world because it is a real thing.

A student learning at aish hatorah once went to the Gerer Rebbe the Lev Simcha. The Rebbe asked where he learned and the student said "Aish, but im not a baal teshuvah" and the Rebbe yelled, "WHY NOT!?!?"

It seems that you are very new to this Judaism thing and it is ok to be new. You need to ask lots of questions and not rely on a message board with anonymous people who will most likely give you an aggressive response like me. Im doing it so you learn about Judaism the correct way. Chabadtalk is not that way.

Make friends, speak to Rabbis, ASK questions and a lot of them. Dont worry about the details of Chabad when you are not very clear on Halacha or how Judaism in general works.

Hilchos Teshuvah by the Rambam explains exactly this concept. Instead of recommending a chapter, I recommend the entire sefer. 10 chapters.

Learn it. Hatzlacha.

[GreenEagle]

OK, but did the Rebbe use the term "baal teshuva" to refer to secular Jews who adopt Orthodox Judaism?

[Lamp Lighter]

A baal teshuvah by definition is someone that is living contrary to Hashem's will as expressed through the Torah and once realizing this, regrets his past mistakes and makes a commitment to try to then follow Hashems will as expressed through the Torah. This is the defintion the Rambam gives in Hilchos Teshuvah that was complied in the year 1170-1180. The Rebbe as well as thousands of other Rebbeim throughtout history have also used this term in its proper context. If you would go to chabad.org and find hilchos teshuva in the 3 perakim daily study and real the entire hilchos teshuvah it would help you on an unbelievable level.

[ari-free]

The other term is chozer b'tshuva
חוזר בתשובה