Q&A: Reflections on Repentance and on a Second Chance
Reflections on Repentance and on a Second Chance.
Question
Hello Rabbi,
I have a thought about a certain issue, and I’d be happy to hear your opinion.
I heard from Douglas Murray, the British journalist, that we live in a society where even if a person made a mistake and fell, there is no atonement and no forgiveness for him.
If someone tweeted something 10 years ago, people will find it and try to bring him down and prevent any advancement for him because he once said or did one foolish thing or another.
This connects to the issue of various people who are caught for different offenses and commit suicide.
From what I learned in the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) and in the view of the Sages, even a person who committed the gravest sin has a way back if he returns in complete repentance.
David.
Manasseh.
Nineveh.
The words of the Talmud about “Acher.”
Eleazar ben Dordaya.
Maybe if our society related to a person who erred—even if he erred in something very serious—with an approach that says that if he returns in complete repentance and accepts his punishment, he will be accepted back as a new person, then the various people who are caught in their offenses would not try to deny it and commit suicide.
Rather, they would try to repair themselves.
What do you think?
Answer
I completely agree. The problem begins with the fact that every person or group sees the opposing person or group as wicked or stupid, and therefore is unwilling to listen to them or judge them in a balanced way. That doesn’t mean there are no wicked people, and when someone is wicked, you don’t have to judge him favorably or spare him. Certainly if he has repented. The problem is that among us, people keep broadening the category of wickedness and including in it anyone who disagrees with them. It really is a shame.