The Essence

DIVINE FORGIVENESS

"Machal lanu, Selach lanu, Kapeir lanu" – "Pardon us; Forgive us; Atone us" (from the Yom Kippur prayers)

Mechilah means that the sin is pardoned; i.e., it does not leave a stain. This is analogous to one who washes in an ocean: the water rinses off the dirt, but the dirt remains in existence, although it cannot be detected in such a large quantity of water. Selicha and Kapara means that nothing at all remains of the sin (kapara has the root meaning of “wiping.”) Moreover, the sin itself is received willingly: deliberate sins are transformed to merits.

(from Ma’amarei Admor Hazakein Parshiot -- excerpted from Days of Awe Days of Joy, p.174)

"For the sin that we have sinned." (from the Yom Kippur prayers)

When confessing our sins it is customary to beat the chest just over the heart as a symbol of repentance as each transgression is enumerated. Yet logically the opposite would seem to make more sense: Should not the heart strike out at the hand that actually committed the sin? Our intention, however, is the source of all transgression -- the lusts and desires of the heart that lead to sin.

(Hegyonot Shel Ami)

"(He) forgives our sins, year after year." (from the Yom Kippur prayers)

A human being, if wronged by his neighbor, will forgive him after that person apologizes and begs for forgiveness, but will find it more difficult to forgive a second time if the very same thing happens again. How much more so is this true if it occurs a third or a fourth time. To G-d, however, there is no difference between a first and a thousandth offense committed against Him. G-d's attribute of mercy has no limit or boundary, as it states, "For his mercy endures forever."

(Rabbi Shneur Zalman, Tanya-Igeret Hateshuva)