Elul 20 - Discovering Longevity Through Forgiveness

0:00You are listening to Rabbi Arya Wudi, director of torch, Torah outreach resource center of Houston. This is the Jewish Inspiration Podcast. Amir Abshmul-Arab, Bar-Nachmani, Amir Ab-Yonassam. Ab-Shmul, the son of Ab-Nachmani, said in the name of Ab-Yonassam, G-dol-A-Tshuba, Shema-A-Rech-S-Snoza-F-Shal-A-Dham. Repentance is so great, it lengthens the years of a person. You want to live a long life, repent. Shema-A-Beshuv-Rasha-Mirish-Aso-Hoyo-Yikhye. And when the wicked man turns away from his wickedness, he will surely live. Live, he will live, it says. Let me tell you something. When someone lives in a difficult relationship with a parent, a spouse, a child, a relative, a sibling, that tension is not healthy.

1:06That tension causes a shortness of life. It causes pain, that pain takes us away from our lives. You want to live a long life. The Talmud here tells you what to do. When a person makes a man's, you know what? It's not going to be easy. It's not easy to call up that that estranged child. You know what? I was right. I have heard people tell me, I said, why don't you just pick up the phone and call them? Just call them. Just say, you know what? You made a mistake. They don't want to talk to me. Try. Feel the pain. Make them whole. Make yourself whole. Talmud talks about what happens if someone doesn't forgive. You ask multiple times and then what happens if they pass away and you didn't attain forgiveness? There's a whole process. You go to their gravesite with a bunch of other people.

2:10And you have a formal request. You ask three times for forgiveness. And it's guaranteed that they're going to forgive. Why? Because in the heavenly court people see things the way they are. Things in a lens of truth, in a lens of genuine sincerity. And there's no personal animus anymore. It's what's really happening here. So when a person is dealing with a challenge, you hurt somebody. Someone hurt you. Figure out a way to make a man's. Figure out a way to remove the barriers. Because that will make you much closer. But be, it'll give you long life. And I believe that someone who always says nice things about other people.

3:15Someone who always has a nice word to say about someone else. To someone else. Encouraging words. And it isn't an acquiral with anyone. You know, a co-hain cannot bless the congregation if they're in a fight with someone. If a co-hain is an acquiral, they cannot bless the congregation. You know why? Because if you have a barrier here, you have a barrier there, you can't do your job. The best way for us to ensure our own longevity. Of course, take your vitamins. Of course, do your exercise. But more important than all of that, make sure you don't have strained relationships. And if you do, figure them out.

4:15Invest time. Make it a priority. Call up that person and say, you know something I'm sorry. Now is the time, by the way. Right before Shashana. Right before you, I'm Kipper. The Halaqah said, we learned this in our everyday Judaism podcast. Just this week. Don't wait till you I'm Kipper to do repentance. You can already start before Shashana. To spend time thinking this past year, who may have, who may I have hurt? Who may I have insulted, neglected, offended, interpersonal, and then of course, between us and the Almighty. This is our responsibility. And if we're able to, we need to do everything we can to ensure that we're whole with everyone. And they were not carrying around the burden and the people aren't holding a grudge against us.

5:17People are walking around hurt from us because that can also cause us damage. I'm fine. I have no problems. Me, nothing bothers me. I'm okay. But other people holding a grudge on us isn't either good. Okay. Tom would now continue. Amar Rabi'itz-Khakr. Rabi'itz-Khak says, Amri Bema'arava Mishmei de Rababar Marei in the west in the land of Israel. They used to say in the name of Rababar Marei. Bo'ur a'ish, low-comit, a'khandish, bor, khumid, as Basar Adam. The matter of which God deals with things is unlike and is very different than how flesh and blood deal with things. Me, Das Basar Adam, the matter of flesh and blood, Makhnithis Khaverbidwaram, if one aggravates his fellow with words, Suffaik mispaiis hemeno, Suffaik a'n mispaiis hemeno. It's a matter of doubt whether or not the victim will be placated by him or not.

6:19Will you be appeased by his apology? The Imtomar mispaiis hemeno, and if you say that he is placated and it's resolved, Suffaik mispaiis bitwaram, Suffaik a'n mispaiis it's a matter of doubt, whether you'll be placated through just words or whether he will not be placated through words. Amar Rabi'itz-Khakr. Adam over Avir-Bassay-Surfa-Man commits a sin in secret mispaiis memeno bitwaram, he's placated with words. It's enough. Shinnemar ke huyi mochemdwarim vishuvu alashem. Take words with you and return to asham, words, just say I'm sorry, that's it, words, words. Willow oat furthermore, alashem machhsiklotov wa ghaad even accounts his repentance as he good deed, Shinnemar as its states, ve'kach tof and accept good.

7:19Willow oat alashem mal ala bakhossuf ki ilu hikriiv paaram. Furthermore, the repentance is regarded by scripture as though he had offered a sacrificial bull. Shinnemar, vi nishalma paarams fa sainu. Shematoma paareh howa, lest you say that this refers to sacrificial bulls that are obligatory, ta'amudlama the Torah therefore states later in that passage, arpe mishuvasum ohaveim nidava. I will heal their waywardness, I will love them freely. What happens when we repent? Even you didn't sin in public. You didn't go out in the middle of the street and desecrate God's name. It was private. It was in my own room, my own home. And I sinned. Nobody knows about it. It's just me and God. My own account of God. It's not like I have to do a public apology, Hashem. I did something wrong. I embarrassed your name.

8:20I desecrated your name in public. No, no, no, no, no. It was private. What you have to do is have a talk with God. And God makes it as if you brought him offerings. Not only instead of the power, the power of repentance is so great that it's like you brought in an offering that's loved by the Almighty. You've been listening to the Jewish Inspiration Podcast, a torch production. Become a supporter at torchweb.org because your assistance enables more Torah learning around the globe. To find more lessons offered by Torch, please visit torchpodcast.com. To find more lessons offered by Torch, please visit torchpodcast.com.