[Avodah] Teshuva - postive or negative?

[saul mashbaum]

RDE
>>
...one can do teshuva either by focusing on faults or by focusing on  avodas HaShem 
...the issue is whether the main concern is repentance through  repair of the bad or through improvement of the good? 
>>
The negative and positive aspects of the tshuva process are reflected in two radically different aspects of Rosh HaShana, each one with considerable support from the machzor and our halachic and aggadic sources. Rosh HaShana is Yom HaDin, and indeed we are bidden to tremble on RH as we are being judged, keenly aware as we are of our inadequacy. On the other hand, it is the day on which we joyously crown HaShem as King, rejoicing that we have been privileged to do so, this being our avodat Hashem. The shofar fills us both with fear, as a siren would, and with joy, as ceremonial trumpets which herald a king would. RH is thus the classic "gilu b'raada". We can well inquire which aspect to emphasize, but both are definitely part of the RH experience. I would venure to say that combining both aspects of RH is both a most demanding, and a most  rewarding, challenge.
Saul Mashbaum
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