Categories

Blog

Explore
Living As A Forgiver

Sometimes it seems impossible to forgive, for the act committed was too offensive. Here, Elisabeth Mann could us teach many lessons about tolerance, love, anger, and forgiveness. Elisabeth has much to be angry about. When she was a teenager, she and her family were rounded up...

Explore
Living in Forgiveness

During the late 1940s, India was engulfed in religious wars as the nation prepared for independence from Great Britain. A Hindu whose son was murdered by Muslims during the internal strife went to see Mahatma Gandhi and asked, “How can I possibly forgive the Muslims?...

Explore
Forgiving Myself

Elisabeth Mann must still forgive herself daily for one of those tragic “what if” situations she was thrust into when she was so young. When her family arrived in Auschwitz, they stood before armed guards who asked her how old her brother was. She told them...

Explore
The Isolation of Ayin

Despite all these jokes, kisses and embraces, there was still a silence within me that left me suffering and isolated in the heart of the crowd. - Orhan Pamuk ‘The pre-eminence of man over beast is "Ayin," non-existent.’ (From the Yom Kippur Vidui) The Ba'al HaTanya read...

Explore
"Ayin" Walking

Any road followed precisely to its end leads precisely nowhere. - Frank Herbert He does everything he is supposed to do. He follows the letter of the law. He prays every word when it is the proper time. He measures the water he uses to wash his...

Explore
Seven Levels of Teshuva David Part One

Teshuva Brings Forgiveness to the Entire World The most important of the ten confessions of Yom Kippur is the one before Yom Kippur begins. We must confess before the holiday. We are concerned that someone may choke and die before having a chance to confess, therefore,...

Achieving Greatness
Confessions: Latznu

We have scorned. (Artscroll Vidui) “Scoffers – Leitzim – covet mockery for themselves.” (Proverbs 1:22) The Vilna Gaon (Commentary to Proverbs) explains that the Leitz – the scorner, scoffer and
Achieving Greatness
Confessions: Maradnu

We have rebelled. (Artscroll Vidui) Rabbeinu Yonah (The Gates of Repentance, Third Gate #8) describes someone who rebels against rabbinic authority: “It has been set forth in the Gate of Fear
Achieving Greatness
Confessions: Niatznu

We have provoked and angered God. (Artscroll Vidui) “Woe to a sinful nation, a people heavy with iniquity, evil doing seed, corrupt children. They forsook God, they provoked – Niatzu – the Holy One

Achieving Greatness
Confessions: Sararnu

“They have departed quickly – Saru - from the way that I commanded them, they have made for themselves a molten calf.” (Exodus 32:8) God uses Saru to describe the sin of the Golden Calf. The Seforno
Achieving Greatness
Confessions: Tzararnu

We have persecuted and caused others to suffer. (Artscroll Vidui) “You made us retreat from the adversary – Tzar – and those who cause hatred against us plunder for themselves.” (Psalms 44:11)
Achieving Greatness
Confessions: Shichatnu

“Thus said God: For three transgressions of Edom I have looked away, but for four I will not pardon them – for pursuing his brother with the sword and suppressing – Sheechait – his mercy.” (Amos 1:11)
Achieving Greatness
Confessions: Ti’avnu

We have been abominable. (Artscroll Vidui) “How much less one who is abominable – Nitav – and filthy? Man who drinks iniquity like water? I will tell you. Hear me.” (Job 15:16)  This describes someone who sins and continues to sin without slowing down.