Forgiveness in an evolving world
Just as God forgives, so too must we.
If you are reading this message, you are likely to be at an age where the world has evolved so drastically from when you were born.
More and more we find ourselves living in an unforgiving society, where with the age of the internet and social media, the ability to judge people from behind screens has developed. This has removed people from personal proximity and encourages judgement without slowly considering the mitigating circumstances, complex nuance or the true impact of our words. Our fascination with gossip has meant that we are, at times, quick to vilify people, thus destroying their hopes, careers or public image.
The term Jew comes from the Hebrew word Yehudi and originally Judah. The same Judah who was instrumental in selling his brother Joseph to Egypt, lying to his father and then mistreating his daughter-in-law, Tamar. This negative evaluation of Judah radically changes when he publicly declared about Tamar: “She is more righteous than me.”
Despite the risk of public shame and humiliation he declared that she was right, and he was wrong. Later in his life he was willing to give himself up as a slave in exchange for his brother Benjamin. He was a changed man.
As Jews, we must channel that meaning of the term Jew. We must lead by example and teach our society the importance of forgiveness. We must give second chances. We must believe that people can really change and forgive them.
A man by the name of Mr Wesley was on his voyage to Georgia with General Oglethorpe in the 1700s, when the general threatened revenge upon an offending servant, saying: “I will never forgive”. To which Mr Wesley responded: “Then I hope, sir, that you never sin.”
Indeed, people must show remorse, must commit to change and being better, but when we see them struggling and depressed over their actions, it is our job to uplift them.
Imitatio Dei is the principle that we are to attempt to ‘walk in God’s ways’ and to imitate His attributes. Just as God is compassionate, so we must be compassionate. As He is gracious, so we must be gracious. As He forgives, so must we.
A student once asked his Rebbe: “If we are to emulate God, how do we fulfil the attribute of revivifying the dead?”
The answer was forthcoming: “If you see a person who is dejected and who has lost the spirit of life, and you say or do something that lifts their spirits and restores their will to live, then you have emulated God in resurrecting the dead.”
Let us this year be inspired to revive others and allow them to grow as better people.
Rabbi Rapoport grew up in the United Kingdom, arriving in Sydney in 2008. He has worked at various schools and shules since his arrival, until he joined the Kehillat Kadimah community in 2019 as rabbi.
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