This Week's Parsha

We learn in the Mishna,Yoma 8:9:

With regard to one who says: I will sin and then I will repent, I will sin and I will repent, Heaven does not provide him the opportunity to repent, and he will remain a sinner all his days.

With regard to one who says: I will sin and Yom Kippur will atone for my sins, Yom Kippur does not atone for his sins.

For transgressions between a person and God, Yom Kippur atones; however, for transgressions between a person and another, Yom Kippur does not atone until he appeases the other person.

Rabbi Elazar ben Azarya taught that point from the verse: “From all your sins you shall be cleansed before God” (Vayikra 16:30). For transgressions between a person and God, Yom Kippur atones; however, for transgressions between a person and another, Yom Kippur does not atone until he appeases the other person.

Rabbi Akiva said: How fortunate are you, Israel; before Whom are you purified, and Who purifies you? It is your Father in Heaven, as it is stated: “And I will sprinkle purifying water upon you, and you shall be purified” (Yechezel 36:25). And it says: “The mikvah (ritual bath) of Israel is God” (Yirmiyahu 17:13). Just as a mikvah purifies, so too, the Holy One, Blessed be He, purifies Israel.

Rabbi Yehuda Leib Ginzburg in Mussar HaMishna comments:

Just like when one immerses in a mikvah one’s entire body must be surrounded with water at one time, so too when one repents before God, both the spiritual and social sins must be atoned at the same time.

God is like our mikvah. Not only does God purify us but God also gives us hope (tikvah).

May we all do our part to start the new year with a clean slate as we hope and pray that that the upcoming year will be better than the last one.