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by the pirate on April 18th, 2005

the pirate

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How do Jewish people atone for sins?

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  • by ChabadRabbi on February 8th, 2007

    ChabadRabbi

    Jews have a process called "Teshuvah". While many people glibly translate it as "repentance", the correct translation is "return". This underscores Judaism's belief that we are naturally good, and need to strive to return to that state.

    Maimonides, the great redactor of Jewish law, describes the process. First, you must regret the sin. Second, you need to verbalise the nature of your sin in a personal prayer and ask forgiveness (there are prescribed prayers for this in our daily prayers).

    Then you have to resolve never to repeat the sin.

    You know that you have atoned fully when you have the opportunity to repeat the sin, and you don't.

    If the sin involved harming another person, you need to approach that person, explain what you did, and have them forgive you. Then you proceed with the other steps mentioned above.

    (You can Maimonides' full treatise on "Teshuvah" at http://www.panix.com/~jjbaker/MadaT.html)

    Comments

    • Take a look, I've posted some info.

      ChabadRabbi

      by ChabadRabbi on February 8th, 2007

    • You're welcome.

      ChabadRabbi

      by ChabadRabbi on February 8th, 2007

    • Repent does mean return or go back.

      Ibrim (Hebrews)9:22 And, according to the Torah, almost all is cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

      Perhaps you do not believe in the New testament then,

      Wayyiqra (Leviticus) 17:11 ‘For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your lives, for it is the blood that makes atonement for the life.’

      Moshe gave clear instruction on atonement. Why does Rabbinical law have the right to change that ?

      Either Judaism should believe that the Saviour has died to atone for their sin, or they need to continue sacrificing animals.

      Another said that Yom Kippur is the day of atonement, and that is where atonement is received. Yom Kippur existed in the time of Moshe too, why then did they still sacrifice animals ?

      Shemoth (Exodus) 29:28 “And it shall be from the children of Yisra’ĕl for Aharon and his sons by a law forever, for it is a contribution. And it is a contribution from the children of Yisra’ĕl from their peace offerings – their contribution to יהוה.

      IvanN

      by IvanN on December 30th, 2010

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