“When a person repents, forgiveness is granted both to him and to the whole world (Yoma 86b).” How does one person’s repentance bring about forgiveness for the whole world? This happens because the penitent awakens thoughts of Teshuvah in the hearts of others.
But not everyone has the capacity to be this one person. Such a person has not yet existed, for that unique person will only be the Messiah, the son of David. His soul must comprise all other souls. Otherwise a person’s thoughts of Teshuvah cannot evoke thoughts of Teshuvah in others who are unrelated to his soul.
Moreover, it is necessary for the thought of repentance to affect all aspects of his soul.
One who encompasses the entire world possesses the plenitude of powers of the entire world; and if he repents with only one power, he can arouse repentance only within those others who are dependent upon this one power.
King David possessed a soul that encompassed all other souls, for he was the “Fourth leg of the Divine Chariot (Zohar III 262b),” and assumed the yoke of repentance soley for the transgression of desire.
That is why Yeravam ben Nevat, who did not have this blemish of desire, did not repent, and entered into conflict with the House of David.
Except for the Patriarchs and King David, no other soul has encompassed the world in its entirety.
Moses’ soul encompassed the souls of scholars; his generatiom was wholly a generation of knowledge.
Other individuals who repent have the ability to evoke Teshuvah only in souls who are dependent upon them, and then only with the specific power concerning which they repent. (Tzidkat HaTzaddik #159)
By: Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, n''y
After reading this post, it occurred to me that we can use the "Plural" wording as our intention to have the capacity to bring forgiveness to the whole world.
ReplyDelete