Sin and Repentance
-
Moses, Repentance, and Punishment
Why was Moses denied entrance into the Holy Land (for failing to listen to G-d’s instructions at Meribah-Kadesh when wandering in the desert), when Moses obeyed so many of G-d’s commands and did so much for the people of Israel.…
-
Three Stages of Repentance
What does the Rambam say about the three stages of repentence? From the Rambam’s Laws of Repentance:”And what is the [discussed] repentance; The sinner should take leave of his sin, remove it from his thoughts, and decide in his heart…
-
Repentance for Repeat Offenders
How do we understand the concept of Teshuva (repentance)? How can we stand before G-d and beg for forgiveness, and then one year later we stand again asking for forgiveness for the exact same things we asked the previous year?…
-
“He died for our sins”
The notion that Jesus died for our sins is based on the sacrifice system and sacrifice is atonement of sin. What’s your opinion? Isn’t the sacrificial system, mentioned in many chapters of Torah, more important or valid than other duties…
-
The “Original Sin”
If Adam is the one who did what G-d had forbade him to do, why then do we all have to suffer for what Adam did? Isn’t it true we are all accountable for our own “sins”? Answer: In fact,…
-
Atonement today
We find offerings and slaughterings as atonement for sins. If this is the way in which we always received atonement, this is the format in which G-d wishes to atone for our sins. In which case, how do we atone…
-
Coming back to Judaism
I was wondering what the bible, or Jewish law, has to say about people who briefly “lose their way.” If someone decides that he no longer is interested in following Jewish customs, but then several days or years later realizes…
-
Those Who Have No Share in the World to Come
Which sinners have no share in the World to Come? The Mishnah in Sanhedrin lists three kings (Jeroboam, Ahab, and Menasheh) and four others (Bilaam, Doeg, Achitofel, and Gechazi) who have no share in the World to Come. The kings…
-
Moses' Farewell Message
Did Moses read HAAZINU twice? Moses recited HAAZINU to the elders and the "congregation" (31:28,30) using very strong language (31:29), and afterwards he recited it to the "people" (32:44-45) using much softer language (32:46-47). The point seems to be that…