Tanya Igeres Hateshuva Chapter 2b

In this episode of Clearing the Mud we talk about how fasting is a way of showing Hashem that we don't just want His forgiveness after we sin, but that we love and respect Him deeply and want to be in His good graces. You can forgive someone and still not want to hang out with them. We want a mutually respectful and loving relationship with Hashem. So even though fasting is not part of the teshuvah process, it is an additional gift we give Hashem to show Him that we want to be in this loving relationship. Fasting also opens up special channels of Divine favor, which can only be accessed through this fasting. This "supernal favor" is part of Hashem’s light untouched by our sins. By giving Hashem the gift of fasting, we receive the gift of “supernal favor” in return.