This coming Hebrew month of Elul is dedicated traditionally to Teshuva, usually translated as Repentance. Although repenting is indeed a very important stage in Teshuva, it is only one narrow aspect of the whole.
Maimonides in his codex of law- Mishne Torah, divides Teshuva into three stages- Repentance, Confession and Deciding to change. Repentance is only the first of the three. One cannot do without the other. In Judaism great importance is given to the actual deeds, over the abstract faith issue.
There is a Hassidic story which illustrates this point nicely. A follower of one of the Great Hassidic Masters, the founder of Chabad, came to his holy master complaining about the Mitzvah of Tzedaka-Charity. He said that since he is a great merchant, a very wealthy man, he gives a lot of charity. But he feels his charity is full of self-importance, and he thought maybe he should give away less, as to lower his bloated self-esteem. With a sharp look the Holy Master asked him: “Indeed, maybe you are truly full of arrogance, but doesn’t the money truly help them?”. You may feel whatever you may, and indeed it is your job to change, but your deeds are those who speak for you.
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