Yossi Elitov Explains Divine Mercy as the Only Accepted 'Bribe' in Teshuva

Yossi Elitov, editor of the newspaper 'Mishpacha,' shared his insights in a segment on Kikar HaShabbat about the concept of teshuva (repentance) in Judaism. He described divine mercy as the only 'bribe' that God accepts, not because it nullifies judgment, but because the initial step of repentance already contains the end goal within it. Elitov explained that a person who merely confesses and commits to not sinning again has not yet reached teshuva out of love, but God treats them as if they have. This is because from that moment, a path is born within them that can transform them into a different person. The mercy of God precedes the outcome, recognizing the potential for change within the individual.