Learning Teshuva

A vort from Rebbe Aharon M'belz.

The Targum on the 13 attributes of mercy (KI Sesa 34:7) translates וְנַקֵּה֙ לֹ֣א יְנַקֶּ֔ה as סָלַח לִדְתָּיְבִין לְאוֹרָיְתֵיהּ וְלִדְלָא תָּיְבִין לָא מְזַכֵּי.  Similarly, the in Yeshayahu (1:16) the possuk says רַֽחֲצוּ֙ הִזַּכּ֔וּ הָסִ֛ירוּ רֹ֥עַ מַעַלְלֵיכֶ֖ם מִנֶּ֣גֶד עֵינָ֑י and the Targum translates רחצו as תּוּבוּ לְאוֹרַיְתָא.  We see from here says Rav Wolbe, that the first step in teshuva is to learn Torah. 

Dovis Hamelech says in the chapter of לדוד ה' אורי that we recite during these days, בזאת אני בוטח.  The midrash comments that word בזאת is a reference to Torah.  Again, the protection that Dovid relied upon is Torah.