{"id":73120,"date":"2020-04-08T11:20:03","date_gmt":"2020-04-08T08:20:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/?p=73120"},"modified":"2020-04-08T11:20:03","modified_gmt":"2020-04-08T08:20:03","slug":"great-is-repentance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/great-is-repentance\/","title":{"rendered":"Great Is Repentance"},"content":{"rendered":"
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In our Chapter, Ezekiel is appointed by God as the \u201cwatchman (tzofeh) for the House of Israel\u201d (Ezekiel 3:17 and following). Among other things, Ezekiel is told: \u201cIf a righteous man repents his righteousness and does wrong\u2026he shall die\u201d (verse 20).<\/span><\/p>\n

This verse is cited in the context of an extensive discussion of the power of repentance in Talmud Bavli Yoma 86a-b. \u201cIf a righteous man repents his righteousness\u2026\u201d (Ezekiel 3:20) \u2013 But repentance has the power to delay punishment! Rabbi Levi said: Great is repentance, for it reaches up to the Throne of Glory, as it is said: \u201cReturn, O Israel, to the Lord your God\u201d (Hosea 14:2).<\/span><\/p>\n

Rabbi Yohanan said: Great is repentance, for it overrides a prohibition of the Torah (Jeremiah 3:1 and Deuteronomy 24:4 \u2013 unlike the relationship between a husband who is prohibited from returning to his unfaithful wife, when Israel is \u201cunfaithful\u201d to God, they may still \u201creturn\u201d to Him).<\/span><\/p>\n

Rabbi Yonatan said: Great is repentance, because it brings about redemption, as it is said: \u201cHe shall come as redeemer to Zion, to those in Jacob who turn back from sin, declares the Lord\u201d (Isaiah 59:20). Why will a redeemer come to Zion? Because of those in Jacob (i.e. the People of Israel) that turn from transgression.<\/span><\/p>\n

Resh Lakish said: Great is repentance, for because of it, premeditated sins are accounted as unintentional errors, as it is said: \u201cReturn, O Israel, to the Lord your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity\u201d (Hosea 14:2). \u201cIniquity\u201d refers to premeditated sin, and yet it is said here to be because of \u201cstumbling\u201d. But, beyond this Resh Lakish said that repentance is so great that premeditated sins can become merits, as it is said: \u201cAnd when a wicked man turns back from his premeditated wickedness and does what is just and right, because of these things he shall surely live\u201d (Ezekiel 33:19). There is no contradiction between these two statements of Resh Lakish. When one repents out of fear, his premeditated sins are accounted as unintentional errors. But when one repents out of love, his premeditated sins are accounted to him as merits.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rabbi Meir said: Great is repentance, for on account of a single individual who repents, the sins of the whole world are forgiven.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rabbi Samuel bar Nahmani said in the name of Rabbi Yonatan: Great is repentance, because it can prolong a man\u2019s life, as it is said: \u201cAnd if a wicked person turns back from the wickedness that he practiced and does what is just and right, such a person shall save his life\u201d (Ezekiel 18:27).<\/span><\/p>\n

Rabbi Hama bar Hanina said: Great is penitence, for it brings healing to the world, as it is said: \u201cI will heal their affliction. Generously will I take them back in love, for My anger has turned away from them\u201d (Hosea 14:5).<\/span><\/p>\n

We may hope that penitence and repentance may help to bring much needed healing to the world in our time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","image":{"ID":73121,"id":73121,"title":"ez3-repentance","filename":"ez3-repentance.jpg","filesize":0,"url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez3-repentance.jpg","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/great-is-repentance\/ez3-repentance\/","alt":"","author":"7","description":"","caption":"","name":"ez3-repentance","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":73120,"date":"2020-04-08 08:19:25","modified":"2023-09-07 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