Forgiveness

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1. Yaakov's Struggle and Confrontation

   Rabbi Chanoch Waxman | 35 minutes

   Yaakov is left alone and struggles with a mysterious figure. Why are they struggling and why does Yaakov insist on receiving a blessing from this stranger? What motivates Yaakov to meet Esav, and why does God insist on this meeting? Blessedness stems from struggles. The struggle, and the meeting with Esav, is a manifestation of Yaakov’s character transformation and of his sincere search for forgiveness.

2. Did Joseph Forgive his Brothers?

   Dr. Ruth Walfish

   תאריך פרסום: תש"ע | |

   Much thought has been devoted to the question of what Yosef wished to accomplish by his manipulation of his brothers. In this class we will explore the question of how Yosef felt towards his brothers, during and after his interaction with them in Egypt. Was Yosef able to put aside his hard feelings and really forgive them for the terrible deeds they had done to him? How did the brothers feel towards Yosef after he revealed himself to them? Our answers will be based both on close textual reading, as well as on an exploration of the emotional and psychological components of forgiveness.

    

3. He Speaks in Allegories

   Dr. Tova Ganzel

   Throughout the chapters dating to the years prior to the destruction there is a motif of words and terms that relate to women. This image is fully realized with the death of the prophet’s wife, symbolizing the final destruction of the city.

   The detailed description of the unfaithfulness of this woman – Jerusalem – emphasizes the chasm between her humble beginnings, with no lineage and no identity, and the abundance God bestowed upon her and His favors done for her that ultimately end in her betrayal. God’s response is a detailed description of total annihilation.

   Yehezkel compares the deeds of the city of Jerusalem to those of Shomron and Sodom. The sin of Sodom, as depicted here, is that despite the economic stability and strength of its inhabitants, they did not support the poor and needy. Yehezkel attributes only social sins to Sodom in order to emphasize the more grievous sins of Jerusalem, which are described as unfaithfulness.

   Despite the people’s actions in the present, the covenant that God remembers and maintains even in the future is a covenant of youth, and even at the time of their sin, this historical covenant will stand. This is also why the nation is rebuked just as it is being forgiven.

4. Atoning Before God

   Rabbi Dr. Tamir Granot

5. Complete Forgiveness

   Amos Hakham

6. “From the Depths I Call to You” – Psalm 130

   Part 2

   Rabbi Elchanan Samet

   The expression “from the depths” connotes “deep water”, and this is a metaphor for the dire straits in which the worshipper finds himself. The psalm describes a person who is praying because he feels that he is about to drown; thus, God’s aid is a vital and immediate need.

   The “depths” in which the worshipper finds himself, and from whence he called to God, are a metaphor for his sins.

   However, the great distress which the worshipper suffered in stanza a. is eased somewhat once he has given thought, in stanza b., to the well-known truth that “with God is forgiveness." Now he is certain that God has indeed heard his voice and has listened to his supplications.

7. “From the Depths I Call to You” – Psalm 130

   Part 3

   Rabbi Elchanan Samet

   The Psalmist draws a comparison between the hope for God’s appearance and the anticipation of the night-watchmen for the dawn illustrating emotional stress and insecurity, God’s “hidden” state, and the tremendous significance of God’s revelation.  

   The command to Israel, at the beginning of the final stanza comes as a surprise. The first three stanzas of this psalm are stamped with the individual personality who stands before God, waiting and hoping for Him. From this point forward, the individual worshipper is included amongst all of Israel, and his own waiting and hoping becomes part of theirs. His confidence in God’s response to them now includes himself. With regard to the nation, there is no doubt as to God’s positive response, bestowing His kindness of forgiveness and redemption from sins.