We believe that once we have done wrong, we cannot ever remove that stain of guilt. By strict justice, every sinner must be punished. Once done, a wrong can never be wiped out. By the miracle of God's love, however, the past can be erased. Even evil can be left behind.
Repentance goes beyond guilt or sin.
As Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik has pointed out, the basis of repentance is that human beings are capable of recreating themselves continually. Becoming aware of bad or unsatisfactory behaviors is the first step to coming alive. The month before Rosh HaShanah and the ten days of repentance from Rosh HaShanah to Yom Kippur are set aside for this purpose in Jewish tradition. Our subsequent decisions to change and to create new living patterns add up to choosing life.