The Gemara in Berachos 34b states: Rav Abahu said: The place where penitents stand the completely righteous do not stand.
How is it possible that the Bali Tshuva can have a more exalted place in the next world than those who never sinned. The good boy who always does good gets a lesser position then his brother who sinned and repented? This is against logic!

I have an answer but I would like to hear some other possibilities first.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Rabbi Mitterhoff,

"the place where penitents stand the completely righteous do not stand."

here is a long but short story to explain this meaning.

The BeSh'T was with his followers at the third meal. and they were talking among themselves for they were confuse as to why he would associte with these poor and igorent jews. as you know the third meal is a very holy thing. however the poorer and ingorent jews would go to the beit midrash and recite Tehillims. the Baal SHem Tov began to sing songs with his followers. as they were coming to the end he side to each one to put his hand on the shoulder of his fellow. then they began to hear the most beaitful medoldies they ever heard. wonderous that this must the angels praising HaShem. when the BeSh't took his hand off of the man next to him the music stop. they each ask the Baal SHem what was that we heard. the Baal Shem said that is the ignorent jews reciting Psalms.

just like the ignorent jew the Baali Tshuvah stand in place closer to HaShem their prayers are that of a broken heart with a deep yearning and closeless to G-d. which can only be known if truley feel distant from G-d. whereas the perfect tzidik would have to work even hard to know how to have a broken heart and as deep a yearning for HaShem. for HaShem to him was always there.

that would be my guest without looking into the matter..

I think it is quite logical. When one has seen or experienced the Yetzer haRa and is still able to return to the Yetzer haTov, that peron has certainly received a higher merit to stand ahead of those who are always "righteous."

The theme of the month of Elul and the period between Rosh Hashannah and Yom Kippur (even through Sukkot)is teshuvah - return.

Therefore, it is perfectly logical that to "return" is on a higher plain than remaining the "same" and not changing.

Bivrachot Shalom,

Reb Ari

here is another possible answer. the Baali Tshuva do not have a more exalted place in the next world. for we are taught were the peintent stand the completely rightous do not stand.

this mean nothing other then they have thier place and the completely rightous have a greater place. for it is written "...nor the sinful in the assembly of the rightous"

and how do we know the sinful used here is in reference to the Baal Tshuvah simply for the end of judgement stats that the rightous (the complete tzidik) "HaShem will attend to the rightous and the wicked will perish."

but what of the sinful why are they not mention again?

They do Tshuva and return to G_d or will perish among the wicked. from this we learn that the Baal Tshuva enter the Gan Edan however they are do not stand among the gathering of the completely rightous. for they are near to sin even in their prayer.

Tehillim 1

many possiblities i guess <s>

What's your answer, Rabbi Mitterhoff?

Rav Chaim Shmulevitz the great Rosh Yeshiva of Mir, explained that primary factor that stops us from growing is the lethargy caused by serving Hashem through habit. Habit can make all the mitvoth to be merely mechanical and totally extinguish the passion for one's worship. When one sins, everything needs to be reevaluated. The sinner asks himself "who am I?", "what am I?" "I thought I was religious?". It is the shock of the sin that wakes him from his "religious routine" and helps to bring him to a live and heartfelt devotion to one's creator.

What I find some amazing about this is that it if someone is yashar (straight and honest) life itself will bring him closer to his creator and all his actions will lead him back to G-d. I hold that one of the reasons why we are being so exposed to the media along with all it glorification of lust and desires, is to bring us to a true devotion. Anyone one who is just serving Hashem externally and out of habit can easily be swept away by the Internet and all the impurity of modern society. In order to withstand these pervasive forces one has to be religious to his core. Sin can destroy one's identity and be a catalyst grow into someone who truly fears his creator. The main thing is to never give up because Hashem will always take you back if you do t'shuva.

Rabbi Mitterhoff,
thank you for raising the question as well as the wonderful answer.