Subject: In Memory of Baruch Yitzchak ben Yirmiyahu (Barry Pessin)
From: Heath Berkin <heath.berkin@gmail.com>
Date: 7/7/2017, 4:23 AM
To: Heath Berkin <heath.berkin@gmail.com>
BCC: menachem@alonsystems.com
The Mishna in Avos (5;19) says if someone causes others to sin he will not be given the opportunity to repent.
The first part of the Mishna (which we explained last week) focuses on someone who causes others to merit. The second part of the Mishna focuses on the exact opposite, on someone who causes others to sin.
It is not enough for this person to sin himself but he causes others to fall as well. This person can be viewed as leading a rebellion, so to speak, against G-d. On this person the Mishna says he is not given the opportunity to repent.
The commentators explain this last clause in a number of different ways, either that Hashem closes off the opportunity to repent, or He simply doesn't extend "His Hand" and help the person to repent (although the opportunity still exists).
The first explanation, that Hashem closes off the opportunity for him to repent must be understood. Our Sages tell us that the gates of repentance are always open so how can we reconcile this with our Mishna? Repentance itself has the ability to atone and prevent punishment from being exacted on the person.The Ramchal explains that real repentance has the power to totally eradicate sin. The concept of repentance in this light is totally beyond time and space. If Jon kills Bob, he can ask for forgiveness, he can pay some type of compensation, he can sit in jail he can even accept upon himself a death sentence, but whatever he did cannot be undone. Bob is still dead and will be. Repentance on the other hand, retroactively uproots the action in a spiritual sense as if it never happened. A person could have sinned their entire life but if they repent (even minutes before death) with a full heart, they have the ability to totally uproot their past sinful actions. The power of repentance totally transcends our world and is a pure act of Kindness from G-d.
A person though who causes other's to sin against G-d, destroys so much that he loses this Chesed, he no longer has the opportunity to repent.
Everyone has something to fix and repent. May we all take advantage of this tremendous Kindness G-d has afforded us and uproot our past deeds.
