Forgive us

Scenario One:

Forgive me
Ok, but don’t do it again

And then we do it again.

Forgive me.
But you said you wouldn’t do it again.
I know, but I did, forgive me.
Ok, but don’t do it again.
Ok.

And it happens again.

Forgive me.
No way. Enough is enough. How many times can I forgive you?

Scenario Two:

Forgive me.
Ok.

Forgive me.
Ok.

Forgive me.
Ok.

The difference?

In the first scenario, one person is talking to another. In the second scenario, we are talking to our Heavenly Father.

People have limits. G-d is beyond infinite, and so is His capacity to forgive.

We gave away land, realized our mistake, and now some are again talking about giving away land. Slach lonu Ovinu — forgive us our Father.

We fought and hated, and we realized our mistake, and then we intensified our love and caring for each other; and now some are again causing disunity. Slach lonu Ovinu.

We were afraid of what the world would say, what America would say; and then we changed, determined to finish the war against Hamas no matter what anyone says. We, the entire Jewish nation, were determined to protect Israel, to do what G-d wants us to do. And now some people are becoming afraid of the nations. Forgive us Father.

And guess what? When G-d sees that we are again determined to do what’s right, then in His infinite mercy, He forgives us again.

And then, one day soon, as the Jewish people return to our true essence, the G-dly soul within us, and we determine to, once and for all, do what G-d wants us to do, then our bond with Him becomes revealed for the whole world to see.

As we hasten Redemption with the arrival of our righteous Moshiach, very soon indeed.