LEV1137 "But he, being full of compassion, forgives iniquity and destroys not." -- Psalms 78:38. … Moses was the first biblical figure to assert the crucial importance of forgiveness in God's relationship with man. The worshipers of the golden calf were initially condemned by God to death. Moses was distressed by God's decree, which did not leave the door open to forgiveness. Addressing the people, he said "You have sinned a great sin, and now I will go up unto the Lord; perhaps I shall obtain forgiveness for your sin" Exodus 32:30). Moses' forceful argument in his plea to God formulated the theological doctrine of forgiveness as a permanent factor of divine judgment. The doctrine which emerged out of the dialogue between God and Moses established the principle that forgiveness is a conditional privilege which only those who are worthy of divine compassion may expect. This principle was clearly spelled out in a divine proclamation [Exodus 34:6-7]. Forgiveness, according to this proclamation, is rooted in divine compassion, which is consistent with truth. In other words, forgiveness is not an emotional reaction but a rational judgment based on truth and justice. What must an offender do to deserve divine compassion and forgiveness? The basic condition is an admission of wrongdoing and an expression of penitence. This is the import of the biblical passage in Leviticus: "And they shall confess their inequity… in the treachery which they committed against me… if then perchance their uncircumcised heart shall be humbled… then I will remember my covenant with Jacob" (to protect his offspring; Leviticus 26:40-42).

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LEV1138 See [[LEV42]] Leviticus 5:5 confess GATES 69

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LEV1139 See [[LEV41]] Leviticus 5:5 confess TZADIK 495

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LEV1140 Ten circumstances induce humility and lowliness in an arrogant individual. … 7. When a person is beset with troubles and tragedy, his spirit is broken and his heart humbled, as it is written: “If then their uncircumcised heart is humbled and they accept their punishment” (Vayikra 26:41).

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LEV1142 You possess many different qualities ... two... are pride and humility. Pride and haughtiness are in place when meeting those who deny God and those who turn away from Him. Do not be humble or meek before them, lest you appear to justify them and incline toward their corrupt views; rather, unleashed pride and haughtiness, to indicate your opposition to their views and your displeasure with them, as you learn from the story of Mordechai and Haman. Humility is in place when you meet a person who is pious and pure, God-fearing, learned in His Torah, and devoted in His service; or [when meeting] a person who has shown you favor and kindness, to whom you are indebted and must make a repayment-- and how much more so if his favors [toward you] are so numerous and great that you cannot make him a return for them; or when accepting upon yourself God's judgment, as it is written “If then their uncircumcised heart is humbled and they accept their punishment” (Vayikra 26:41).

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LEV1141 See [[GEN1009]] Genesis 18:21 reached GATES 159

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LEV1143 It was taught: Why are the patriarchs mentioned in reverse order? [To teach that] in the absence of the deeds of Abraham, the deeds of Isaac would suffice; in the absence of the deeds of Isaac, the deeds of Jacob would suffice. Each is worthy of saving the world in his own merit (Torath Cohanim)

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LEV1144 R. Simon said: If the fathers of the world [i.e., the patriarchs] sought to take the reward of the mitzvoth which they did in this world, whence would merit obtain for their children after them? This is what underlies Moses' saying to the Jews: "Then I shall remember My covenant, with Jacob, etc." (Yerushalmi Sanhedrin 10:1)

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LEV1145 See [[1128]] Leviticus 26:34 rest DORFF-RUTTENBERGSOC 81-3

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LEV1146 If a person in our own times would like to witness something similar to these [miraculous] events, let him look candidly at our position among the nations since the beginning of the Exile, and at our orderly condition in their midst, though we disagree with them in our beliefs and practices, as they well know. He will see that, in regard to standard of living and subsistence, our situation is close to theirs, and that in times of war and conflict, it may even be better than theirs. He will see that their middle class and villagers toil more than the middle and poor classes among us. This is as we were promised by our Creator, may He be exalted: “Yet for all that, when they are in their enemies’ land, I will not so abhor them and be disgusted with them as to destroy them and break My covenant with them” (Vayikra 26:44) ; As Ezra said: “Though we are servants, God has not abandoned us in our servitude” (Ezra 9:9); And as it says: “Had it not been for God, Who was for us, let Israel now say; had it not been for God, Who was for us, when men rose up against us” (Tehillim 124:1-2), and the rest of the psalm. In the gate on assuming the service of God, I will, with the help of the Almighty, elaborate sufficiently on the abundant favors God has bestowed on us in His Torah which He has given to us.

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