He is your relative!

Hi,

[Introduction: Michah 7:18 says that Gd forgives "the she'eirit of His portion". The word she'eirit implies a blood relationship; see Vayikra 18:6, for example.]

"This is how Gd acts with Israel, saying, 'What shall I do to Israel? They are My relatives, she'eir of My flesh!' For they are partners to Gd, and Gd calls them 'My daughter,' 'My sister,' 'My mother,' as seen in the words of the sages…

"And one should be thus with his friend. All Israel are she'eir relatives of each other, for their souls are interwoven. One has a portion in the other, the other has a portion in this one… "

(Rabbi Moshe Cordovero, Tomer Devorah 1:4)

חג סוכות שמח,
Mordechai

Learning from Gd to forgive

Hi,

[Because forgiving doesn't end with Yom Kippur, the forgiveness-related Torah Thoughts continue...]

"[Gd's] Forgiveness does not come via proxy, but from the very hand of Gd, as Tehillim 130:4 says, 'For forgiveness is with You.' And what is this forgiveness? Gd washes away the sin, as Yeshayah 4:4 says, 'Gd has washed away the filth, etc.'…

"A person must also have this very trait. He should not say, 'Am I to repair this person's sin or destruction [by forgiving him]?' He should not say thus; after all, when a person sins, Gd personally – not via proxy – repairs that which the person has corrupted, washing away the filth of his sin.

"And due to this [close Divine involvment] one will be embarrassed to return to sinning, for the King has personally washed away the filth of his clothing."

(Rabbi Moshe Cordovero, Tomer Devorah 1:3)

חג סוכות שמח,
Mordechai

Divine Forgiveness

Hi,

Preface: The Talmud here first defines avon and pesha as forms of intentional sin, and chata'ah as accidental sin. The Talmud is then bothered by Shemot 34:7, in which Moshe describes Gd as "forgiving avon, pesha and chata'ah", since one Gd will forgive intentional sin, it seems obvious that Gd will forgive acciental sin. The order in the sentence ought to be reversed.

"What does Moshe mean when he says that Gd 'forgives avon, pesha and chata'ah'? Moshe said before Gd: Master of the Universe! When Israel sins before You and repents, treat their intentional sin as though it was accidental."

(Talmud, Yoma 36b)

מהו שאמר משה נשא עון ופשע וחטאה? אמר משה לפני הקדוש ברוך הוא: רבונו של עולם, בשעה שישראל חוטאין לפניך ועושין תשובה - עשה להם זדונות כשגגות

Have a great day,

Mordechai