YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Shabbat and Holidays
- The High Holidays
- S'lichot
Translated by Hillel Fendel
Question: Shalom. I am not religious. How can I ask forgiveness of rabbis to whom I related in a derogatory manner? I insulted and maligned them… and some of them are no longer living. Thank you. Sincerely, David
Answer: Shalom to you too. It is very moving to read such a letter in which you so sincerely express a desire to rectify what you did in the past. This is a very important step, and a great merit to make such a decision. I bless you that you will have the strength to continue and complete the rectification of the bad things you did. Making fun, ridicule and scorn are very bad things – for even if they do not hurt the subject of the derision (for instance, if he does not know of them), they actually hurt the speaker! This is because speaking in this way brings him down to a bad place, one of negativity, bad thoughts, small-mindedness, and bad desires. To rise above this is a large merit, and by doing so, you have taken an important step.
As is known, a very significant stage in the process of teshuva (return, repentance) is to ask forgiveness of the person whom we have hurt. At the same time, we must take upon ourselves not to repeat the bad thing in question. Without these two steps, we truly cannot attain our goal of rectifying the past, because the roots of the bad deed remain with us. It is very important that we learn how to change these aspects of our internal world, so that it is truly led by happiness and goodness, and to stay away from the negative places of anger, criticism, arrogance, and looking down upon others.
If you wish, I would be happy to discuss these issues in more detail with you – and if you have already merited to undergo this process, I would be happy to hear about the steps you merited to take.
Regarding the asking of forgiveness, certainly one who hurt someone must apologize and ask to be forgiven. If the person who was spoken about does not know that he was spoken about, there is no need to tell him; rather, the "penitent" should say in general, "In the past I was once angry at you, and I said some things that I now regret. I would like to ask forgiveness for what I said in my anger." There is no need to go into details, for that would serve no purpose.
If the person who was harmed is deceased, one should bring a minyan [ten men] to the gravesite and there ask forgiveness. It is important to do this, and not find excuses not to. I believe that when you do this process, you will feel a wonderful sense of cleanliness and purification from what happened in the past. Until this cleansing, not-good things take up negative space inside us and weigh down on us, and when we cleanse ourselves of them, a beautiful feeling of renewal comes over us.
I wish you great success!
Question: Shalom. I am not religious. How can I ask forgiveness of rabbis to whom I related in a derogatory manner? I insulted and maligned them… and some of them are no longer living. Thank you. Sincerely, David
Answer: Shalom to you too. It is very moving to read such a letter in which you so sincerely express a desire to rectify what you did in the past. This is a very important step, and a great merit to make such a decision. I bless you that you will have the strength to continue and complete the rectification of the bad things you did. Making fun, ridicule and scorn are very bad things – for even if they do not hurt the subject of the derision (for instance, if he does not know of them), they actually hurt the speaker! This is because speaking in this way brings him down to a bad place, one of negativity, bad thoughts, small-mindedness, and bad desires. To rise above this is a large merit, and by doing so, you have taken an important step.
As is known, a very significant stage in the process of teshuva (return, repentance) is to ask forgiveness of the person whom we have hurt. At the same time, we must take upon ourselves not to repeat the bad thing in question. Without these two steps, we truly cannot attain our goal of rectifying the past, because the roots of the bad deed remain with us. It is very important that we learn how to change these aspects of our internal world, so that it is truly led by happiness and goodness, and to stay away from the negative places of anger, criticism, arrogance, and looking down upon others.
If you wish, I would be happy to discuss these issues in more detail with you – and if you have already merited to undergo this process, I would be happy to hear about the steps you merited to take.
Regarding the asking of forgiveness, certainly one who hurt someone must apologize and ask to be forgiven. If the person who was spoken about does not know that he was spoken about, there is no need to tell him; rather, the "penitent" should say in general, "In the past I was once angry at you, and I said some things that I now regret. I would like to ask forgiveness for what I said in my anger." There is no need to go into details, for that would serve no purpose.
If the person who was harmed is deceased, one should bring a minyan [ten men] to the gravesite and there ask forgiveness. It is important to do this, and not find excuses not to. I believe that when you do this process, you will feel a wonderful sense of cleanliness and purification from what happened in the past. Until this cleansing, not-good things take up negative space inside us and weigh down on us, and when we cleanse ourselves of them, a beautiful feeling of renewal comes over us.
I wish you great success!
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 3
The second speaker invited to convince the Khazar King is the Christian, who presents their beliefs. Even before the questions of the King, "between the lines", the author R. Yehuda HaLevi already begins disproving them.
Ein Aya "Intimacy: Love, Life & Giving or Egocentric Taking & Expiration"
Today, many confuse between intimacy in marriage, based on love, giving and life which are diametrically opposed to empty "sex", pornography and prostitution which destroyed the Beit HaMikdash. The practical importance of clarifying this topic in today's western society is obvious, especially for young adults.